WorldSBK riders play Phillip Island beachgoers
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Australian Josh Brookes has been hard at work on the eve of his return to the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island, unveiling his freshly liveried 2016 BMW Motorrad race weapon this morning before hitting the Cowes beach this afternoon for some ‘fun in the sun’ with his race colleagues.
Brookes is stepping back into the world scene after dominating the British superbike title in 2015 on a brand new Yamaha, and he’s now facing a similar challenge in 2016: getting to grips with the S 1000 RR, a bike he only rode for the first time last month. His teammate, ex-MotoGP rider, Karel Abraham, is also in the same boat.
The Sydneysider joined a number of other stars of the championship at Cowes beach today where he pulled a rabbit out of his hat in the sand castle challenge when he added home-made lava to his beautifully crafted volcano in the last 10 seconds.
Alongside his teammates from Cowes Primary School, Lily Huther and Imogen Graham, the win put Brookes one up on his world superbike foes.
He nearly made it the double minutes later after being pipped at the post by Brit Leon Camier in the paddle board challenge.
Other stars putting the paddle to the test were world champion, Jonathan Rea, Ducati’s Chaz Davies, world supersport champ Kenan Sofuoglu, test pacesetter in WorldSSP Randy Krummenacher and 16 year old Sydneysider, Lachlan Epis, the youngest competitor ever to embark on a world supersport campaign.
Meanwhile, former MotoGP world champion and now WorldSBK rookie Nicky Hayden was the class klutz, literally, failing to even stand up on the board and requiring the assistance of the Cowes Primary School kids to get him back to shore.
Others superbike riders involved in the beachside fun included former MotoGP rider Alex de Angelis and former world champion, Yamaha’s Sylvain Guintoli.
WorldSBK practice commences at 10:15am tomorrow, and the two races will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. A total of 10 Australians will be competing across the two world championship classes.
Gates open 8am Friday, Saturday, Sunday this weekend for back to back racing action.
