Brookes apologises for Mallory mistake

Josh Brookes has reiterated his apology to Simon Andrews, Tommy Hill, Chris Walker, Karl Harris and John Laverty after his disastrous error at Mallory Park cost them all strong results.

Brookes begins a two race ban after being found guilty of reckless riding during the opening race around the Leicestershire circuit, the Australian having misjudged his braking as he attempted to pass Walker at the hairpin.

Clipping a bump and unsettling the bike, Brookes was launched into Andrews' Kawasaki, while the carnage and debris would go on to eliminate the following Hill, Walker, Harris and Laverty too.

The second time this season the HM Plant Honda rider has been brought up on charges of riding without due care and attention, following his collision with Sylvain Guintoli at Donington Park, Brookes added that he was stunned to learn there would be no count-back rule either for those he caused to fall.

"These events are not something I could have ever imagined and I'm just so sorry it all happened, as well as being surprised with the regulations which meant the front runners ended up losing their race positions," Brookes, who started 17th, said.

"After the first corner incident I got pushed off the track, so knew I had to make head way and try and climb my way back up the field. I'd been following Chris Walker for a good lap and knew that the hairpin would be my best chance of overtaking him. But, I made a mistake and braked hard, and at a place where there's a bump in the track that I wasn't familiar with.

"The back of the bike came up that was it as I then couldn't brake any more. I flew off and unfortunately clipped Simon's rear wheel which took him down and other riders then got caught up in the track debris.

Although Brookes will definitely miss the following two rounds at Brands Hatch and Cadwell Park, it is possible he would be forced to miss them through injury regardless after hurting his thumb.

"It seems the ligament connecting to the thumb has pulled a chunk of bone off so I'll need surgery to fix things but I'm confident it should heal in a few weeks. I understand the race rules but it is disappointing for the front guys who went down as they worked really hard and deserved a podium."

HM Plant Honda boss Havier Beltran, meanwhile, is faced with a difficult decision now regarding rider choice having already seen Brookes' team-mate Glen Richards sidelined by injury.

"In race one Josh was riding superbly to fight his way back up through the field and assess all the options and places for overtaking. He'd followed Chris for a lap and knew the hairpin would be a good place to take him, but Chris ran slightly wider than Josh had anticipated so Josh's late braking manoeuvre unfortunately didn't work out as he hit a bump in the track on braking, which is generally only know about from having good past experience as this track, which meant the back of the bike lifted and Josh high-sided.

"It was an unfortunate racing incident which Josh admits was his mistake, but sadly racing incidents do happen. We're just sorry that race leader Simon Andrews was taken down and that debris caused more riders to fall.

"We're obviously aware that we rider issues the next two rounds for Brands and Cadwell, with both Josh and Glen now not able to ride, and we will be looking out our options over this coming week."