Brookes hoping to get championship defence back on track at Brands

Bennetts British Superbike Championship

BSB returns to Brands Hatch this weekend and, following a 644-day wait from the 2019 season finale, fans will be welcomed back to the Kent venue in unrestricted numbers to witness the incredible spectacle of the country’s leading motorsport series.

There have already been three different race winners, plus a further four podium finishers, from the opening six races of this season. But amazingly enough our defending champion Josh Brookes is yet to even get on the podium let alone the top step.

However Brookes is the most successful current Bennetts BSB rider at Brands Hatch, equal on 19 race victories with Shane Byrne on the Grand Prix circuit. The VisionTrack Ducati rider has had an uncharacteristic start to this title defence, with a best result of sixth place and is currently 11th in the standings. Brookes has won seven of the last eight races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. There is added glory up for grabs too, as riders will fight for the Monster Energy King of Brands Trophy.

Josh Brookes

“I look forward to every round and Brands Hatch is no different. Obviously, I have a great record at the track, and I’d love for that to continue. But things haven’t worked out as I’d have liked so far this season, so I’ve discussed it at length with the team and we know we need to turn things around. We had a great setting last year so hopefully we can find what we need and put this poor start to the season behind us.”

His VisionTrack Ducati team-mate tops the standings ahead of this weekend’s triple-header after Christian Iddon moved to the top of the standings at Knockhill. His victory last time out puts him six points clear of fierce rival and Oulton Park treble winner Jason O’Halloran.

Christian Iddon

“It is a cool feeling to be leading the championship and it was great to win at Knockhill. In all honestly and I know I say it a lot, I always approach every event the same – I just go out and give my best. I know that the VisionTrack Ducati worked well at Brands Hatch last year and I believe that our set-up has improved since then. I know from what Josh does there, that the bike is super competitive at Brands Hatch. I also know that other riders have very competitive bikes there, like the Yam, and I expect a really strong weekend from Jason and probably more from Taz. But it is never easy – you never know what will happen until you get there and can never discount anyone, so I certainly won’t be doing any of that and there is no room for complacency. It can be only a moment in time that you’re in that position, so I am planning to keep us there for as long as possible.”

O’Halloran made one mistake at Knockhill with a crash in race two forcing him to relinquish the series lead to Iddon. The McAMS Yamaha rider was victorious at Brands Hatch last October on his way to second in the title fight, and he will be aiming to regain the position with another strong weekend.

Danny Buchan launched into third overall at Knockhill with an impressive double win for the SYNETIQ BMW team; he holds a slight edge over the second McAMS Yamaha rider, Tarran Mackenzie ahead of the three races this weekend.

Rookie Rory Skinner delivered a sensational performance at Knockhill, celebrating a podium finish in only his fifth Bennetts BSB race, before immediately following it up with another second place in the final race of the weekend.

A single point separates Skinner and the FS-3 Kawasaki team from Tommy Bridewell. The Oxford Products Racing Ducati team raced to the rostrum at the season opener and will be hoping to add to their Podium Points tally this weekend.

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Peter Hickman and the FHO Racing BMW team debuted with a podium finish at Oulton Park, and after narrowly missing out at Knockhill, will be pushing to score BMW’s first win on the Grand Prix circuit since Michael Laverty in 2015. The team are expected to return to the full line-up at Brands Hatch, with Xavi Forés targeting his debut races in 2021 following injury sustained at Oulton Park.

Lee Jackson currently holds eighth place in the standings, and the FS-3 Kawasaki rider will be pushing to move further up the order this weekend with just a single point separating him from Ryan Vickers, who is just outside the all-important top eight for the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team.

Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW’s Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde, plus Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin and Buildbase Suzuki pairing Gino Rea and Danny Kent will all be pushing to claw their way up the order, as they currently sit outside the top eight positions, which will be critical to their title hopes ahead of the end of year Showdown.

Bennett’s British Superbikes Championship Standings

British Supersport/GP2 Championship Standings

Pirelli National Superstock  Championship Standings

British Talent Cup Championship Standings