SBK, Davies: "It was like playing chess"

Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes set out to win the opening race at Phillip Island but, for different and unexpected reason, both the Welsh Ducati rider and English Kawasaki rider had to "settle" for second and third place on the podium respectively.

The number 7 factory Aruba rider sums up his race in a few words: “the race was really slow at times -reveals Chaz- the tyre choice was like a chess game: if you wants to break away you had to stress the tyres, but someone had to run up front, so we were all being a little cautious and strategic. I conserved the tyres, particularly in the final laps. The wind was also annoying and affected riding, it was easy to make mistakes, especially for those not used to racing here at Phillip Island”.

What can you say about the level of your adversaries?

“This is a strange track, where you often race as a group. To understand our level and that of our rivals, we need to wait a few rounds. Tomorrow I'll start from the third row but..... last year, I qualified ninth, I'm used to starting back there (he laughs)”.

Third place wasn't the result that Tom Sykes was hoping for before the start but the number 66 Provec rider seems satisfied anyway: “considering the two test days and yesterday, third is a good result for us but... I'm also disappointed I couldn't do more - reveals Sykes-  But, looking at my form at this track, the podium here is like a win at another track. We've quite pleased as a team, Phillip Island is a difficult track”.

Tom also had to fight against both his rivals and the strong wind…

“The wind was a bother, it was very easy to make a mistake; I did in fact through one turn, going wide and unable to make up for it. I was already on the limit in terms of grip, the track temperature was high for such a long race; tomorrow we'll look for a setting that offers us greater grip”.