The BMW driver suffered a “severe concussion” in the accident with Lucas Mahias’ Kawasaki in the third race in Catalonia, after which he was also hospitalized for several days.
This is the third round in a row that Sykes is forced to skip, as he has already been watching in both the Jerez and Portimao rounds, which completed the hat-trick that started in Barcelona.
BMW’s hope is that the Brit will be able to recover in time for the last round of the season, on the new Mandalika track in Indonesia, as there will be more than a month’s break after Villicum (run on 20-21 November).
In place of Sykes there will again be Eugene Laverty, who in Portugal finished in the top 10 in all three races, and will join Michael van der Mark, who in the last round gave BMW a victory that it has been missing since 2013, albeit in the short Superpole Race.
“I have a lot of things to say and a lot of people to thank for a lot of reasons and I will do it in a personal way in the very near future, to give more details,” Sykes said.
“But for now I just need to speak to the name of the BMW Motorrad World SBK Team and I want to say that my recovery has been incredible and I am in a position to be ready to return to my passion, to racing.”
“Unfortunately, given the timing of these ‘back to back’ races and the trip to Argentina, there is still some doubt left and, having to make an early decision, I will be forced to stay out for another round.”
“It is difficult for me, because I have lost more races in the last four weeks than I have lost in my 21 years of career. The main thing, however, is that now I can go back to racing, to try and enjoy the last round. of the World Cup “.
Chaz Davies, Team GoEleven
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
If Sykes is still forced to stay out, Chaz Davies has finally recovered from the crash in Barcelona and will be riding the Go Eleven Ducati in Argentina.
The Brit, who has 32 heats victories in his career, broke two ribs during the Superpole Race and this forced him to miss the rounds of Jerez and Portimao, in which he was replaced in an excellent way by Loris Baz.
This weekend’s event and the next one in Indonesia will be Chaz’s last two races in the World Championship, as the Welshman has already announced his retirement at the end of the season.