Brookes bounces back as Showdown beckons

Josh Brookes has bounced back form his back of the grid start in yesterday’s opening MCE British Superbike race of the triple-header weekend at Oulton Park to practically lead from start to finish.

And it was bad luck behind him as title rival Shane Byrne lost out on three valuable podium credits, when his PBM Kawasaki expired in the closing stages of the race. Byrne was able to break away in the early stages of the battle to follow Brookes right until the suspected engine failure from his normally ultra-reliable ZX-10R.

That left the chasing pack of Danny Buchan, Dan Linfoot, Luke MOssey and James Ellison promoted to the fight for second, with Buchan backing up yesterday’s debut BSB podium with one better in second. Linfoot made a valuable step closer to the final Showdown place with his third, as he hunts down the injured Stuart Easton.

Michael Laverty also secured his Showdown spot with a scrappy ride to ninth, while teammate Tommy Bridewell crashed heavily out of the leading battle – but should also be able to secure a top six spot at the expense of Easton.