BSB: Brookes remains mystified by grip woes

Qualifying at Brands Hatch brought a disappointing result for the McAMS Yamaha team with Josh Brookes qualifying a dismal 20^th place.

The 2017 series runner-up wasn’t able to progress from the Q1 session after a set-up change didn’t work out during the 18-minute session as he continues to search for a solution to a lack of rear grip with the YZF-R1.

“It’s very tight here at the moment, and everybody is riding fast,” Brookes told MCN. “I can only put it down to the fact that this Pirelli tyre isn’t working with my previous data. We’ve tried all the conventional settings from our time in BSB on a Yamaha in 2015 and in 2017 and neither seems to be working.

“We now have to try and develop something new for this tyre, but that takes time and testing to make the steps forward. It’s proving to be frustrating for JB supporters, but I know there’s an issue and when the issue is resolved I’ll be where I need to be. The tyre isn’t hooking up, it’s not getting grip so I just can’t make a lap time come.”