BSB: Brookes bags Brands double

Josh Brookes held off a hard charge from Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin to take his first double victory since 2015 in the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

The Aussie was unstoppable on the Grand Prix layout, leading the second race from start to finish after his earlier victory. However, Irwin was once again breathing down his neck towards the end of the race but the Ducati man wasn’t quite close enough to make a pass on the final lap.

Brookes’ double sees him jump into the all-important championship top six at the mid-way point of the season.

Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper initially slotted in behind Brookes on the opening lap after a strong start, but it wasn’t long before Irwin and Haslam came charging past.

Cooper held his own in fourth position until a crash at paddock hill saw him ruled out of contention.

After a bad start, Jake Dixon began to chase down the leading group before his front tyre dropped off leaving him to settle for fourth ahead of Tarran Mackenzie, who lost a good deal of places in the opening laps and was left to fight his way through.

Christian Iddon rounded off a stronger weekend for Tyco BMW in sixth ahead of Tommy Bridewell, who started his tenure with the MotoRapido Ducati squad in a decent fashion with seventh place.

Danny Buchan was eighth for FS3 Kawasaki with James Ellison and Peter Hickman rounding out the top ten.

Bradley Ray’s nightmare weekend continued as he crossed the line 16^th and out of the points.

Haslam’s championship lead is now 80 points and 22 crucial podium credits over Dixon. Irwin’s two second places cement his position in third with Brookes moving fourth. Bradley Ray sits fifth ahead of Danny Buchan with Shane Byrne finally dropping out of the top six.