Sykes’ best lap came on day-two of the opening British Superbike pre-season test, an impressive feat given it was his first appearance ꦑin BSB since 2010. 

Add the fact Sykes was making h💯is Ducati debut after spending most of his WorldSBK career ﷽with Kawasaki, and it was an overall very impressive showing from the 2013 world champion. 

Like his team-mate Josh Brookes, Syke💜s elected to complete just💜 one test session out of three during Sunday’s final day, however, only McAMS Yamaha rider Jason O’Halloran was able to go quicker on combined times, meaning his day-two time was enough to retain a top two finish. 

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"It was a great experience but not too difficult for me ಞas I was used to WSBK settings," Sykes told Bikesport News. "In fact, I barely worked up a sweat to get the performance I did. And I didn’t have to take it to its full potential. 

"There is a 💯lot of difference between wha🐽t I was riding there and what is allowed here. But I am sure we can get more and am looking forward to it."

While winning at world championship level is an achieve♉ment only a few riders manage to do with regularity, Sykes is aware that returning to British Superbiꦕke is set to provide just as tough a challenge, a championship renowned for its competitive nature. 

There🙈fore the new MCE Ducati rider is not expectinꦚg to have things all his own way.

Sykes continued by saying: "But I am under no illusions, I’ve got a 🐈lot to learn. I’m used to world championship circuits where there are a lot of flowing corners and you get big lean angles and you caꦡn make the most of the chassis and tyres. And, of course, electronics.

"People will make the argument that here is all about talent beca♏use you have more normal bikes. 

"I disagree but you can’t argue with the 𒁃talent here, there are some really go꧑od guys. 

"I have to say I am a little bit on the back foot regarding issues on the some of the circuits, the bumps, the undul꧒ations etc. But that’s what testing is for."

O𒀰ne rider who will without doubt be a thorn in Sykes’s side as𒁏 it relates to winning the title, is current champion Tarran Mackenzie. 

The Yamaha man was very strong during the Snetterton test, which comes after being withඣout on-bike action since January due to suffering a broken arm in Cartagena.

Regularly challenging the top times on day-three, Macken⛄zie’s level of performance even surprisedꦗ himself.

The 2023 WorldSBK hopeful said: "Overall I’m really happy, having had two months of pretty much nothi𒁏ng but recovery and little training I didn’t know how I’d feel on the bike. I’ve su🎃rprised myself a little bit as I didn’t feel too bad with my shoulder or fitness wise either.

"Over the last two days I have got mo🐼re confident and comfortable with t🐎he bike, which was pretty much the same as it was at Snetterton last year, so it was just about doing laps and getting the feeling back.

"In the last run we made a little change to the bike whi🌃ch helped a lo🎐t and I gained some confidence, it was only seven laps, but it was the longest run I’d done over the three days so I was happy with that. It’s put us in a good direction with myself and the bike moving forward."

BS🥀B ri💯ders will now head to Donington Park for a one-day test on March 31st.