Josh Brookes completed a tough weekend for Bertocchi Kawasaki with an 18th finish in race 1 and a mechanical problem forcing him out in race two on lap 15. After returning from Suzuka in Japan on Thursday, a day before first practice, Josh was feeling good about the prospects for the weekend, but the end result was not what he was aiming for.

“I can’t let myself get too down about this weekend. I guess after coming back from the last tests in Suzuka on Thursday, and being at the top end of the time sheets there, I was expecting more. But it wasn’t meant to be. The Team were great as usual, but with a new track to learn, and the Team and I still in early development of the bike, the times were just not quick enough. Suzuka should be great though. I am feeling at home on the ‘Blade, and I know the track, my times are good so it should be quite exciting. Having Paul Free from Joe Rocket Honda with me in Japan helps massively too. He knows the ‘Blade inside out, and he’s a top operator. So here’s hoping Suzuka and the next round at Brands Hatch will be better for me than Brno!”

Josh leaves for Japan immediately and will compete this weekend for Team Yoshiharu Honda in the Suzuka 8 Hour, where he finished 6th last year on a Honda Fireblade.