Josh Brookes was forced out of his debut British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch on medical grounds after crashing out of the opening race.
The Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider was deemed 'not fit' to take part in the second race after high-siding while challenging for the lead in the opening race at the Kent circuit, after scything through the pack from a lowly 13th-placed start on the grid. Just when the Australian was planning his attack on race-leader Shane Byrne, he suffered a spectacular high-side at the top of Paddock Hill Bend, prematurely ending his Easter Monday debut.
Josh Brookes:
"I suppose we did all right coming back from where we were in qualifying and I have to say, everything felt 100 per cent better today on my bike. As I said after qualifying, I knew what caused the problem and once we'd that sorted; we were fast in morning warm-up and in the race. While I was battling with people in the race, I couldn't get into a proper rhythm, but once I got to P2 - which was quite easy - I was totally confident. I saw 'Shakey' and thought, 'I'm in a good position here,' but it all ended at Paddock Hill. I'm upbeat because I really can't believe how I didn't injure myself in such a big crash. Now I'm just looking forward to Oulton Park."
Philip Neill - Team Manager:
"Josh proved in the opening BSB race that we'd really cracked it with his set-up this morning in warm-up and I have to admit, watching him come through from 13th to second place - it's been a long time since I've taken so much pleasure watching someone on a Superbike: He was so strong and made a pass on almost every lap; no one could hold him off at Clearways. He can certainly ride a motorbike and that's why we signed him, for his 'never say die' attitude. He just pushed that little-too hard down Paddock Hill which caused the crash, but we'll accept that and move on. Until then, he made the whole GSX-R1000 Superbike package look absolutely superb.
British Superbike Race 1:
1st - Shane Byrne (Honda); 2nd - Tommy Hill (Yamaha); 3rd - Tommy Bridewell (Honda); 4th - Stuart Easton (Kawasaki); 5th - Jon Kirkham (Suzuki); 6th - Michael Rutter (Ducati); 7th - Loris Baz (Yamaha); 8th - Dan Linfoot (Honda); 9th - Martin Jessopp (Ducati); 10th - Chris Walker (Kawasaki). Josh Brookes DNF
British Superbike Race 2:1st - Tommy Hill (Yamaha); 2nd - Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda); 3rd - Shane Byrne (Honda); 4th - Michael Laverty (Yamaha); 5th - John Hopkins (Suzuki); 6th - Stuart Easton (Kawasaki); 7th - Michael Rutter (Ducati); 8th - Dan Linfoot (Honda); 9th - Peter Hickman (Honda); 10th - Gary Mason (Kawasaki). Josh Brookes DNS.
