Brookes makes R1 debut at Australian launch

Milwaukee Yamaha rider Josh Brookes has finally made his debut on the brand new R1 he will campaign in the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship. Still in road spec, Brookes joined the official launch of the bike at Australia’s Sydney Motorsport Park last weekend.

With development ongoing on the team’s race bikes, both Brookes and his Australian teammate Broc Parkes will not throw their legs over the race bikes proper until next month, testing at a private test in early March in Spain.

Speaking after his first impressions on the machine, he commented: “I was impressed by the bike straight away. It has been a long time since I have ridden a street bike, so it’s hard to compare, but even without that I can feel that it is so much closer to a track-bred motorcycle. It has race pedigree from the beginning. It leaves you to think about the track rather than the bike.

“Normally when you first hop on a bike you have to start to understand it and its character. Instantly you don’t have to do that. It leaves your mind free and you can focus on what you are trying to achieve, that was my first impression.

“Secondly I was able to push the tyres and I could brake really late, this was really smooth and progressive and it led you to be confident to ride in race fashion. It definitely made a good first impression.”

For a Yamaha R1 special, including MCN’s Michael Neeves’ world first test, see today Wednesday 25^th February’s Motorcycle News.