Tom Sykes wins World Superbike title with third place in Jerez opener

Briton Tom Sykes won the World Superbike Championship a year after missing out on the title by half a point. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

An emotional Tom Sykes admitted he shed tears after winning the World Superbike Championship.

The Huddersfield-born 28-year-old Kawasaki rider, who missed out on the 2012 title by half a point, finished third in the opening race of the final round at Jerez.

That was enough to take the title at the Spanish circuit as he finished behind Ireland's Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) and the Gold Bet BMW of the Italian Marco Melandri. Sykes, who lives in Coventry, became the fourth British winner of the title after Carl Fogarty, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland.

"I'm absolutely over the moon, so emotional. I was shedding a few tears on the slowing-down lap, I was shaking," Sykes said. "There have been lots of sacrifices to get here. Finally we're here and what a feeling."