Brookes pleased with R1 development after double podium

Milwaukee Yamaha rider Josh Brookes says he’s pleased with the progress of the new R1 package after he took a double podium finish at last weekend’s Oulton Park round of the MCE British Superbike series.

Still in need of many parts of the new machine as the team continue development, including new fuel tanks and swinging arms, Brookes was nonetheless able to push at the front, despite admitting afterwards that he hadn’t made it easy for himself.

“In the first race I bodged up the lights a bit at the start of the race. I don’t know why, but everything seemed to go into slow motion. I saw them go out, but I just didn’t go, it just didn’t happen and I had three riders around me. I just floated into the first corner and took an ideal line and it gave me the lead, which was really lucky. I got away with it I guess!

“I was trying to force Tommy Bridewell to make a mistake but then I started to lose a bit of grip so I had to change my plan. I was trying to maintain the lap time and there wasn’t an opportunity to take an advantage.

“I was pleased to get third in race two; in general I made a few mistakes at the start and I thought I was going good but everyone was riding so well. Everyone at the front doesn’t normally make mistakes and if we do it is a crash, so I sat there at the back waiting to make a mistake or force a pass but it never showed. With Kiyo and Shakey going down it gifted me the third position and I will take it, it is too hard to get results in this championship so I am pleased with third.”

With a seven-week break now until the next round of the series – and the Australian sitting out the Isle of Man TT to concentrate on lifting the BSB title – the team should be in a better position when they return to track at Snetterton.