‘Day by day’ approach for Brookes following season best fifth place
Visiontrack Ducati rider Josh Brookes claimed a season best fifth place finish during BSB race three at Brands Hatch.
The Australian looked set for another disappointing weekend after finishing ninth in race one and a no score in race two, however, wet conditions during Sunday’s final event saw a stunning opening few laps from the current series champion.
Brookes moved up from eighteenth on the grid to first during the opening lap after gambling with wet tyres - majority of the field had an intermediate or dry rear fitted as conditions improved moments before the race began.
But when a red flag was waved at mid-race distance, which then led to a dry restart, it was a surprise to see Brookes keep pace with the front group even though he was unable to make an impression on the podium fight.
While fifth ‘isn’t where I want to be finishing’, Brookes acknowledged the considerable improvements made given previous results.
"The day didn’t start well at all but ended a lot more positively and we can definitely take away a few good things from the second race – fifth isn’t where I want to be finishing obviously but given where we’ve been at, it’s a start," said Brookes.
"The bike clearly works well in the wet but in the seven lap dash, I was able to lap comfortably quicker than I have done all weekend so we definitely found something in the dry.
"The SCX tyre is still making the front feel bad but something changed and I was able to lap in the 1’25s bracket which was more satisfying.
"I’m taking it day by day at the moment but it’s nice to end the weekend on a positive note."
Completing the first back-to-back rounds of the season is Thruxton this weekend - Brookes’ ‘favourite track of the year’ - and perhaps the best place for the 38 year-old to see if the gains made at Brands Hatch can be carried into the rest of this season.
Brookes added: "Thruxton is my favourite track of the year so I’m hoping it will all come together, and we can start to get the results we know we are capable of.
"I’d normally be saying I want wins but for now I’m hoping we can get on the podium, so that’s what I’m aiming for."
