Tom Sykes is within touching distance of claiming the World Superbike Championship after recording an impressive double victory in France.
The Kawasaki rider produced his most convincing rides of the year to storm to two commanding wins at the Magny Cours circuit.
Red flags interrupted both races late on but Sykes had already proved to be the class of the field before the encounters were brought to a premature end.
His third double victory of the season has seen Sykes open up a 37 point lead leaving him needing just a fourth place finish at the final round held at Spain’s Jerez circuit to secure his maiden world title.
Sykes made a blistering start to race one laying down the gauntlet to his title rivals. Sylvain Guintoli, who was desperate to cut the championship deficit to the Kawasaki man, could only hold on to the Brit up until lap eight.
With a clear pace advantage, Sykes soon built up a a 1.5 second lead while Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty was dropped and 7.5 seconds further down the road.
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Elsewhere, BMW’s Chaz Davies tried to take advantage of a battle for third between Marco Melandri and Laverty but he made a mistake by running too hot into turn 4. Davies was unable to recover and forced to retire from the race.
There was no stopping Sykes at the front and a red flag deployed due to oil on the circuit from Australia’s Mark Aitchison ensured he would secure his eighth victory of the season.
Guintoli held onto second with Laverty claiming the final place on the podium in third.
Sykes managed to repeat his lightening start in race two as he leapt into a half a second lead by the end of the opening lap. Laverty matched the Kawasaki man by moving from the second row into second position.
But Melandri’s victory hopes were dented early on as he slipped behind Davide Giugliano and Davies.
The leader was a man on a mission and once again nobody could match his pace around the French circuit.
By lap five he held an ominous 2.6 second lead over Laverty, while Melandri’s day worsened by running off track at 180 hairpin.
Frenchman Guintoli was the next man to make a move as he grabbed a crucial second spot from Laverty.
This was start of an almighty scrap between the Aprilia team mates which eventually ended with both of them falling on the last lap.
Luckily for them a rain shower on the final lap brought out the red flag and on count back Laverty secured second behind double winner Sykes with Guintoli in third.
The World Superbike Championship heads to Spain’s Jerez circuit for the final round of the season in two weeks.
