Tom Sykes has given a glowing review of his maiden test on the new BMW S1000RR with the SMR BMW squad as🎃 he heads into 2019 ready for a fresh start in the World Superbike championship.

Sykes is aiming for a refresh in World Superbi💖kes after nine consꦅecutive seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, highlighted by his 2013 world title, as he leaves the team to form the new-look factory BMW squad which will be run by Shaun Muir Racing in 2019.

With a new team and a new bike to become familiar with for next season, Sykes enjoyed his debut test on the new S1000RR꧂ at Almeria this week, alongside team-mate Markus Reiterberger, with the pair both completing over 100 laps at the Spanish track.

Having trialled World Superbike-specification brakes and suspension parts at the Spanish track, Sykes was impressed by his initial experience of the b𝔍ike and his new team.

“I am very happy with ♏the test. Of course, it’s still early days and there is still a lot of things to come our way but 🌜like this I was very happy with my feeling for my BMW S1000RR,” Sykes said. “The general feedback was good.

“We certainly had tw🎶o very productive days testing, we changed quite some parameters on the bike and really understood some key areas to work with. It was a very positive two-day test for me and I was really happy and quite impressed with🅷 the end result.

“It was the first time in that new environment, the who👍le team working with each other and the engine🐟ers from BMW Motorrad Motorsport.

“So it was a new experience for everybody and soon everybody was working together like clockwo✨rk. So it seems that we are progressing very fast and I got a good feeling within the environment in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.”

Sykes missed out on the top three in the riders’ World Superbike standings for the first time since 2011🍌 this year and was replaced by fellow British rider Leon Haslam alongside reigning champion Jonathan Rea at the KRT squad.