Tom Sykes has hit out at Kawasaki team-mate Loris Baz💞 following the first World Superbike Championship race in Qatar after the Frenchmanꦫ failed to yield to a potentially pivotal team order.

Baz was running second behind Sykes's title rival Sylvain Gu💙intoli, with the Englishman in third, coming into the final lap of the race around the Losail International Circuit, prompting Kawasaki to issue an order for him to drop b💮ehind his championship-contesting team-mate.

However, Baz - ⛎who did yield a position to Sykes when asked to do so in Magny-Cours - would hold firm, crossing the line in second place. It means, just three points separate💟 Sykes from Aprilia's Guintoli heading into the final race of the season, rather than seven.

It was a defiance that drew the ire of Sykes when interviewed by Eurosport, branding Baz 'immature and disrespectful' for 𒐪his actio✃ns.

"That just shows how immature and disrespectful he is," he said. "That was a team order, a fairly pivotal one. We lost points in Sepang from his misjudgement and another five now. I could have followed Sylvain in the next race and now it is winner takes it all.

Referencing theꦐir controversial clash in Malaysia earlier this year, Sykes insists he had🐈 no problem with Baz - who will ride in MotoGP next year -, but suggests he may do now.

"I don't know. It was only the incident in Sepang and I have no problem with Lori♏s...🐲 maybe now I do."