Rizla Suzuki have signed rising star Tom Sykes to contest the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

Sykes joins twice Japanese champion Atsushi Watanabe after the team parted company with Chris Walker and Cal Crutchlow.

Sykes, who is 22 and from Huddersfield, finished sixth in British Superbikes last season and claimed six front row starts, one pole position and five podium finishes.

"I am very much looking forward to riding for the factory Suzuki team," said Sykes.

"I'm hoping for a good season and we should hit the ground running at the first round at Brands Hatch. The winter testing schedule will prepare us nicely for the challenge ahead."

Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine said of Sykes: "He is a thinking rider and has a big future ahead of him with Rizla Suzuki."

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