2005 Australian Superbike Championship - Round Two

A typically temperate weekend in Sydney provided the backdrop for a highly successful second round for Josh Brookes and the Joe Rocket Honda race team at the Australian Superbike Championships this past weekend.

As a whole, the racing was fast and furious and of the world class standard local fans are now getting quite accustomed too.

Tyre grip proved to be one of the more important components for the riders over the course of the three day affair, and two edge of the seat Superbike challenges in the new two race format resulted in young Brookes taking both wins in the 1000cc class at his hometown track.

His superior results gave him a round win and a 16 point lead in the Championship.

A pole position and first race win also secured Josh’s lead Supersport position with a 12 point gap from Fergusson who was somewhat frustrated with himself and his lack of pace throughout the event, putting it down to the Creek “not being my favourite track, nor am I fully comfortable with the bike set up or myself quite frankly this weekend!”

Although Adam struggled somewhat to get the pace he wanted all weekend, the
2004 Champion put in consistent rides in both classes allowing him to progress up the series ladder two more much needed positions in the Superbike competition and reinforce his second position in Supersport.

Junior Honda team runner, Jason O’Halloran (Rocket Racing) put in a solid effort to boot finishing fifth for the round after some very tight racing in the two twenty minute plus lap races.

With a near perfect weekend – save for a second Supersport race crash in turn three for Brookes – Josh walked away with a big smile on his face.

“I’m happy with my results. The series has been going well for me so far and I feel really comfortable with the Michelins and both of my race bikes;” an excellent outcome for the recently turned 22 year old talent .

Race Action

Sandwiched between the two Stauffer boys on the Superbike grid, Josh and the other top runners simply whirled quicker and quicker as the weekend progressed, with lap times getting down to just over 1:32 at the New South Wales circuit.

After a top three start in race one, Brookesy found himself on the tail of the two Stauffers, with Honda team mate Adam Fergusson just behind in fourth after losing some ground on the trio at the front.

Quick thinking at the half way mark allowed Josh to take advantage early on in the piece after a mistake from the front runners enabled him to take the top spot. As the men continued to ride as a tight threesome, Brookes managed to hold off them off until the chequered flag.

Race two was a similar affair with Brookesy pegging Jamie Stauffer on the change of direction before turn seven, and eventually making it through to the lead on the run to the main straight where he kept the Kawasaki man at bay enough to take the double win. Fergusson in the meantime made his way up past Johnson (Yamaha) and Giles (Suzuki) to secure another 4th place for the day, not ecstatic but at least satisfied with his result.

Josh’s Supersport effort was equally impressive with a pole position and first race win, however a crash in the second outing under cold tyres marred his otherwise perfect score for the weekend.

Brookesy got away in his characteristic position up front with Mark Aitchison (Yamaha) in just behind him. Honda privateer and last year’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Champion, Bryan Staring also got an absolute flyer of a start from the second row to hang with the lead group and have a battle with fellow up-and-comer, O'Halloran who was having his own tug-o-war with Yamaha’s Robbie Baird. In the interim, Brookes capitalised on the mayhem and pulled away to cement the lead.

Fergusson, who never really found his comfort point on the CBR600RR over the weekend, established himself around mid pack and had to settle for an 11th place finish.

In Supersport race two, Josh once again got away well in his trademark style, and it looked as though it would be a tussle with Aitchison much the same as before. However, the Honda man “pushed too hard on the first right hander with not enough heat and too much throttle and I was out of there.”

“Funny though (referring to his series stopping crash last year in WA), this time around the first thing I wanted to do was get up and walk away just to make sure I was okay. I’m fine and the bike wasn’t too bad either so its all good.”

Adam fared slightly better second time around, wrapping up in eight position with team mate O’Halloran next door in ninth.

“To be honest, Eastern Creek has never been a strong event for me. We were having some problems with 600 set up that we haven’t been able to get exactly right but to be honest, I think most of it has been me this weekend. I need to go away and stop throwing things around and get my head together for round three,” Krusty said philosophically.

“For such an ordinary weekend, I actually still came out alright in the overall points.”

Team Manager Paul Free agreed. “Overall we had a successful weekend even though there were a few glitches. Josh still leads both classes, with Adam second in Supersport and Jason in fourth. Adam also gained some important Superbike championship points. From here, we will just keep working over the next few weeks to make sure we have the bikes working to an optimum level for all of our riders for the next round.”

Rocket Racing’s Judd Greedy will also be keeping an eye on the results after watching Eastern Creek from the pits as he continues to recuperate from a pre season crash which left him with a fractured vertebrae.

“Getting better all the time”, Judd said. “I just have to follow doctor’s orders now but I’m hoping to be back very soon.”

Also on the sidelines - but only in the most positive of manners - was The Honda RACESAFE Medical Team who made their debut at Eastern Creek in their new livery and were kept busy tending to those riders who needed attention, regardless of how minor.

“Honda Australia is extremely proud to be sponsoring RACESAFE,” Brand Manager Jason Nicholas said. “They provide a vital service to all riders out there.”

The next round of the ASC Championship will be held at Wanneroo Raceway in Western Australia.