Josh Brookes doubles Brands Hatch BSB
Brookes crowned ‘MCE BSB Monster Energy King of Brands’ after double win
Josh Brookes was crowned the Monster Energy ‘King of Brands Hatch’ after taking an impressive double win in the sixth round of a dramatic and incident-packed sixth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
The Aussie had missed out on pole position by just 0.001s to his arch-rival Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne but in the races, the Milwaukee Yamaha was unstoppable and he had taken the lead from his PBM Kawasaki rival on the fourth lap of the opening race.
Brookes wasn’t prepared to give an inch and Byrne was pushing hard, but it was a double disappointment for the PBM Kawasaki team as first Stuart Easton crashed out rapidly at Hawthorns, only for Byrne to do the same just a few laps later.
Stuart Easton: “I was feeling confident coming into this weekend although we had a few issues getting the bike how I wanted it. I was happy after qualifying although we had a technical problem during morning warm-up which meant we had to change engines. I was feeling good in the race then all of a sudden I was flying towards the barriers and although I’ve suffered an injury to my leg, all things considered I was extremely lucky. We’ll see exactly what the damage is and I hope to be back and challenging again soon.”
Brookes then held off the close attentions of Richard Cooper on the Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki, and JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison to enjoy his first victory of the season while Byrne’s team won a race against time to rebuild his bike to have him back on track for the second race. Byrne was one of 14 riders that failed to finish the opening 20-lap race.
Shane Byrne repaid the efforts of his crew to bounce back from his 120mph crash to be back at the front of the pack in the second race, but Brookes was thirsty for more and he made his move at Druids and held off the four-time champion for the victory with Cooper completing a double podium celebration.
Josh Brookes – “It’s strange, we’ve gone this far into the season and haven’t been able to win and then we get two in the one day – it’s pretty awesome feeling. It’s a team environment; the guys have worked so hard to make the bike better for me each round and at the start of the season. When you wait for something you really appreciate it and the bike worked really well by race day – I couldn’t fault it and I think it’s down to our plan we had in place. We had a ‘Theoretical Thursday’, ‘Effort Friday’ and try whatever we needed to do to get that done, a ‘Sensible Saturday’ where we put settings in that were just sensible to get the job done and ‘Successful Sunday’. We had a plan, we stuck to it, and we achieved. It all reflects back on the bike really, I didn’t improve the round or the round before that – the bike did. It’s given me the ability to ride with confidence and you can see in the start of the second race the team had made a small change. From what we could see in the data they thought this would help so I told the team to do what you need to do, and I’ll just ride it. The first couple of laps I thought ‘this isn’t right, I’m not turning in, I’m not getting apexes’, and Shakey really seemed to have control of the first couple of laps in his typical style and didn’t seem to be suffering from anything I was hoping to capitalise on. Then about four laps in, it just started to settle into a rhythm and the bike started to feel even better than race one. I was able to just watch Shakey for a little while and then had a look in a few places but I couldn’t see the correct place to do it and then an opportunity opened up and I went for it. To get into the lead and to get a gap is such a great feeling – the bike was on rails and it changed direction like a cat, it was just perfect.”
Shane Byrne: “The first race crash was unlucky and all the data showed was that I’d used slightly more rear brake which was enough to unload the front tyre. I went down hard and the boys did a great job in repairing the bike so it was down to me to pay them back in the second race. I’d be lying if I said I felt brand new but I gave it my best shot although I made a few mistakes during the race allowing Josh to get away, I’ll take second given where we were earlier in the day. Massive thanks to the whole PBM team for rebuilding the bike and I’m sorry I couldn’t give them the win.”
Ellison ran fourth in race two ahead of Michael Laverty, who twice finished fifth having earlier been eased out of fourth place by his Tyco BMW team-mate Tommy Bridewell who crashed out of the second race.
John Hopkins enjoyed a strong ride on his return to the series, claiming sixth place in the opening race – the best result of the season for the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team.
Billy McConnell took a pair of top ten finishes, including a best of sixth place which saw him move up to tenth overall in the championship table.
Having qualified the Smiths BMW in a disappointing 24th place, the Australian had a superb ride in the opening 20 lap race and steadily moved his way through the field. Lapping half a second quicker than what he had done in qualifying, the reigning British Supersport Champion was up into the points by half race distance and he continued to pick off riders in front of him to eventually be rewarded with a fine ninth place finish.
The result meant he started the second race from the more advanced position of row three in ninth place meaning he was keen to capitalise on it. He did just that and although he was under pressure throughout from Luke Mossey, exchanging places on a number of occasions, he was ahead when it mattered most and crossed the line in an excellent sixth place.
Billy McConnell: “I’ve got to say a big thanks to all the team and my friends and family for sticking behind me this weekend as I arrived at Brands Hatch down on confidence and self-belief. I sent the team down the garden path a bit with set-up and we went round in circles, eventually going back to what we had here earlier in the year. With the familiar settings, I was able to give race one a real good go and to come from so far back on the grid to ninth in this standard of competition felt really good. It put me on a high for race two and I was able to make my start position count. Troy Corser has been helping me this weekend and we’re going to try some more suspension settings between now and the next round and just keep chipping away.”
Jason O’Halloran failed to complete a lap in the opening race but bounced back with a ninth place in race two.
Broc Parkes made some steps forward while still recovering from surgery to relieve arm pump issues the Australian has been suffering this season, just sneaking into the top ten in race two.
Broc Parkes – “It has been a mixed day really, I struggled a bit with the front in both races and I didn’t have the confidence to brake how I wanted to and the result were not as high as I was expecting. In the second race I had good pace towards the end, but at the start I couldn’t go with the guys. I caught a few of them and made positions up. We learnt a lot this weekend and we have some ideas for the next races, next I am off to Suzuka for the Eight Hour then on to Thruxton.”
Josh Waters carded 17th and 19th place results at Brands Hatch, just outside the points.
Jed Metcher finished 18th in race one but suffered a DNF in race two.
Josh Brookes has now moved to within five points of Championship leader Shane Byrne.
Race one
1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)
2: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.507s
3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.693s
4: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +0.758s
5: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +4.542s
6: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +4.626s
Race two
1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)
2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +3.434s
3: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +4.616s
4: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +6.887s
5: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +8.284s
6: Billy McConnell (Smiths BMW) +14.930s
Championship standings
1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 221
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 216
3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 147
4: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) 139
5: Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 103
6: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 99
Supersport
Stapleford doubles up to extend Supersport title lead
Luke Stapleford completed his first double win in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship ahead of his title rival Kyle Ryde to stretch his lead in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship to eight points after another dominant front-running performance.
The Profile Triumph rider made the perfect get-away, while Ryde had to pick up a couple of places early on the opening lap, to be running second at the end of it. However the PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha rider was struggling to catch the confident Stapleford who was able to dictate terms from the front.
“We’ve topped every session this weekend apart from the morning’s warm-up and we have been focussed more than ever here. After Knockhill we have comeback here with a solid performance and this victory is for the lads who have worked so hard,” said Stapleford who completed his sixth victory by a little over four seconds.
Ryde rode hard, in the early laps looking to catch Stapleford, but then the leader upped the pace and pulled away with the Jacksdale rider reflecting: “I got a better start that in the Sprint race and thought that is it – I caught him but then he just pulled away and in the latter stages the bike started vibrating, no excuses, so now it is roll on Thruxton.”
Andy Reid took a distant third, on his return from a heel injury, running ahead of his Team Traction Control Yamaha team-mate James Rispoli and he reflected: “It was a good race for me, but a lonely one.”
Sam Hornsey on the second Profile Triumph took fourth ahead of Jake Dixon on the Smiths Triumph and Gearlink Kawasaki’s Luke Hedger while Joe Collier took the victory aboard his Haribo Starmix Triumph in the Supersport EVO category to tighten his grip on that title chase.
South Australia’s Levi Day had a hefty tumble and was air-lifted to hospital, because of heavy traffic, for precautionary checks as he complained of back pain. We got this following update from his dad, Robert, at 0915 this morning – “Was a long night for us all. He is ok at the moment and will be in IC overnight for observations. He had a simple lowside crash but was hit by a following rider who had nowhere to go but over Lev. Was flown to hospital because of crowd at Brands making road Ambulance not an option. Had a bit of internal bleeding which had stabilized before they could do any procedures. That was their main concern initially. Thanks to all the officials and medical staff at the circuit for doing a great job and to the hospital staff who are looking after him now. He is stable and resting now and we will know more in the morning. Thank you for all the well wishes from all around the world. It is a great “family: that we are a part of”
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship – Race One (12 laps)
1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)
2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
3 Andrew Reid (Yamaha)
4 James Rispoli (Yamaha)
5 Sam Hornsey (Triumph)
6 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship – Race Two (18 laps)
1 Luke Stapleford (Triumph)
2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)
3 Andrew Reid (Yamaha)
4 James Rispoli (Yamaha)
5 Sam Hornsey (Triumph)
Championship standings (after six rounds)
1 Stapleford 219pts
2 Ryde 211
3 Irwin 180
4 Dixon 140
5 Rispoli 100
6 Reid 99
Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship
Tarran Mackenzie snatched the victory – his second in as many races – by inches in a dramatic last lap scrap and dash to the line which took him 0.045secs from Ben Currie with Andy Irwin third ahead of Mason Law whose lead in the title stakes has been pegged back to just nine by Currie.
Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship
Alastair Seeley took the victory after an epic race-long duel for supremacy with series leader Josh Elliott who fell at Clearways on the final lap as he attempted an audacious move to snatch back the lead. Jesse Trayler came through in second place, 0.678secs down, with James East third.
David Johnson was forced to retire from the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship race after experiencing a technical problem on the fifth lap that caused him to run onto the grass at Surtees aboard the Smiths BMW.
Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup – Sunday race
Victor Steeman took the victory ahead of Brandon Paasch and Peelu Paavilainen in a race red-flagged after eight laps as several riders in the leading pack, among them series leader Kevin Orgis and Thomas Strudwick, crashed at Westfield.
HEL Peformance British Motostar Championship
Scott Deroue took the victory by 0.045secs from Saturday’s race winner, and series leader, Taz Taylor in a race red-flagged in the closing stages because of a three rider tangle at Surtees. Ed Rendell finished third while in the 125GP category Cameron Horsman took the victory ahead of Josh Owens.
FIM World Sidecar Championship/Hyundai Heavy Industries British Championship
Ricky Stevens/Ryan Charlwood took the overall victory to stretch their lead in the British series, finishing well clear of Ben Holland/Lee Watson in a race red-flagged as Pekka Paivarinta/Kirsi Kainulainen crashed out of third place. Bennie streur/Geert Koerts who finished sixth overall were the best of the World Championship runners.
