Superbikes: Sykes keeps up title hope

Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes made a great start to the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Magny-Cours as he looks to upset the odds and win his first title.

The Briton topped the timesheets with a fastest lap of 1min 38.2sec in the first qualifying practice session yesterday, with title favourite Max Biaggi down in seventh place for Aprilia.

Biaggi is 30.5 points clear of Sykes, who won the opening race at the last round in Portimao, in the riders' standings – and the Italian has never finished outside of the top six at this French track.