2008–2021

Sykes at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, 2012

Sykes made his World Superbike Championship debut at Brands Hatch as a wildcard, impressing by qualifying sixth (ahead of three works Suzukis with more powerful engines, including title contender Max Neukirchner). He retired from a strong position in race 1 due to a hole in the radiator by rocks thrown up by Max Biaggi's Sterilgarda Ducati machine, but came back to finish 6th in race 2. He gained a second wildcard meeting at Donington Park in changeable conditions, where he proved even stronger. He again qualified on the second row, but got a flying start in race one and had a comfortable lead when the race was red-flagged due to oil from Noriyuki Haga's Yamaha. Knowing he had to finish within 4 seconds of Troy Bayliss to win on aggregate, Sykes lead early in race two, before easing off after seeing a white flag with a red cross, which typically means a slippery surface (often with the yellow and red striped oil flag), but racing in British Superbike Championship races, the flag neutralises the race under a full-course caution period with safety car deployment, so Sykes and Leon Haslam both eased up, anticipating neutralisation, but the time lost here proved costly, as Sykes failed to stay close enough to Bayliss, finishing second behind the three-time series champion. He was less competitive in race two, but his reputation had still been boosted.

On 11 September 2008 Sykes signed a contract with the Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike team for the 2009 season, with an option to extend that contract until 2010 depending on results.^[9] Sykes had an average year finishing mostly mid-pack, while his teammate Ben Spies was at the front of the field. This led to Yamaha not offering Sykes a second year, instead hiring fellow Brits James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow.

Sykes signed for the Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki team for 2010, as had been rumoured,^[16] enabling him to stay in the World Superbike class. Sykes said

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it. I believe that from what is in place in the team we’re going to be able to do a good job.”

The Kawasaki was relatively uncompetitive in 2010, but Sykes managed a strong fifth place at Monza. He was the team leader for much of the year, with the more experienced Chris Vermeulen struggling following a knee injury sustained at the first round at Phillip Island. Despite speculation as to his future with the team, Sykes flew to Japan to help test the ZX-10R, the bike the team will use for 2011.^[17] He made a wildcard appearance with the team in the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.^[18]

Sykes at the Phillip Island 2017 Australian World Superbike round

On the final weekend of the 2010 World Superbike Championship season, Sykes confirmed that he had signed a one-year contract with Kawasaki that would see him ride in the 2011 Superbike World Championship season.^[19]

Sykes crashed in the chicane at Donington Park shortly after he passed an Aprilia and moved up to 4th place and he was taken out of the race while his teammates managed mid-placings. He finished close to last in race 2, but Lascorz made 6th. In the following race at the Nürburgring however, he gained his first victory in Race 2.

In the following season, Sykes became runner-up, missing the title only by half a point against Max Biaggi.

Tom Sykes has been crowned the 2013 World Superbike Champion after securing the third-place finish he needed to secure a popular title victory at Jerez, while Eugene Laverty took a dramatic last corner victory over Marco Melandri.

On 21 June 2014, Tom Sykes captured his 21st career Superpole at Italy's Misano World Circuit for round seven of the series.^[20]

By the end of the 2018 season, Tom Sykes and the Kawasaki Racing Team mutually agreed to end their sporting relationship.^[21]

Return (2023)

After a year of absence, Sykes signed a contract with Puccetti Kawasaki Racing. He will compete at Superbike World Championship in 2023.^[22][23]

Races by year

(key)

Year	Class	Bike	SIL	BHI	SNE	OUL	MON	SNE	BHGP	KNO	MAL	CRO	CAD	OUL	DON	Pos	Pts	Ref
2004	BSS	Suzuki	10	Ret	7	14	4	10	Ret	5	9	4	2	2	3	5th	123	[24]

Year	Class	Biks	BHI	THR	MAL	OUL	MON	CRO	KNO	SNE	SIL	CAD	OUL	DON	BHGP	Pos	Pts	Ref
2005	BSS	Suzuki	Ret	9	2	1	1	4					3	Ret	4	5th	119	[25]

Year	Class	Bike	BHI	DON	THR	OUL	MON	MAL	SNE	KNO	OUL	CRO	CAD	SIL	BHGP	Pos	Pts	Ref
2006	BSS	Suzuki	9	5	6	3	C	3	3	Ret	2	2	2	2	3	2nd	172	[26]

Races by year

(key)

Year	Class	Bike	BHGP		THR		SIL		OUL		SNE		MOP		KNO		OUL		MAL		CRO		CAD		DON		BHI		Pos	Pts	Ref
			R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
2007	BSB	Honda	7	5	5	7	7	6	5	6	4	4	Ret	7	6	4	Ret	6	6	4	3	3	3	5	2	2	Ret	7	6th	279

Year	Class	Bike	THR		OUL		BHGP		DON		SNE		MAL		OUL		KNO		CAD		CRO		SIL		BHI		Pos	Pts	Ref
			R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
2008	BSB	Suzuki	6	8	5	Ret	2	Ret	3	6	3	7	4	4	1	1	1	4	2	2	3	2	DSQ	3	6	Ret	4th	316	[27]

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)