Brookesy confirms with Suzuki for 2012 BSB
Australian Josh Brookes will remain with the TAS Racing team for the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship after confirming today (Monday) that the title-contending Suzuki team will feature a new look with Tyco sponsorship for the new season.
Brookes finished runner-up in the 2010 season with HM Plant Honda before he joined Phillip Neil’s team for 2011 onboard the Suzuki, claiming two victories, a further four podium finishes and secured pole for the final round of the year at Brands Hatch. Brookes was a Title Fighter in the Showdown for a second consecutive season and continues to target a maiden BSB title for the team who have successfully won both the British Supersport Championship and National Superstock Championships.
Brookes said: “I thought I was heading home for the Australian summer for four months but I’m delighted to be back in the UK for a few days to re-sign for TAS Racing. I love the new look of the bike in Tyco Suzuki colours and there’s no better place to get the whole season going again than the NEC bike show. It took us a while to get things to click this season, but when it did we proved how good a package we are together, so I’m looking forward to taking that to the next level in 2012. I really enjoy working with the boys at TAS and I love the Northern Ireland lifestyle – so at least there will be no surprises when I return to start the season. The goal as always is to win the championship and I really believe we can hit the ground running and do the business from round one in April. I’m looking forward to it.”
Team Manager Philip Neill said: “Our aim this year with a two rider team in BSB is to target the championship, and we believe re-signing Josh as our headline rider is a good start in making that a realistic target. He showed us glimpses of brilliance this year with his race wins and some superb lap times. It’s fair to say it probably took us a bit longer than we anticipated to get to know each other, and for Josh to gel with the TAS Racing GSX-R1000 Superbike – so a second year together was always going to be beneficial. It’s good to get the deal finalised and great to have Josh back onboard. Now we need to concentrate on getting him a team-mate to complete the line-up.”
Tyco Security Products, General Manager & VS
ice President Phil Dashey said: “Tyco is thrilled to partner with TAS Racing and Suzuki GB for the 2012 BSB season. The team has shown unrivalled levels of professionalism and a pure passion for the sport, and having spent time with Philip, the team and Suzuki – I believe they are a perfect match for Tyco, our products and our partners. Tyco’s global R&D site for our cutting edge security systems is actually based not too far from TAS in Belfast, where we have almost 200 brilliant people. Our participation in BSB, so far, has been exciting enough, but it’s time to make our assault on the championship.”
– BSB Calendar
The 2012 MCE Insurance BSB calendar has been announced today (Monday) by series promoters MSVR.
A field of 32 riders and 16 Elite teams representing six manufacturers conforming to brand new, ground breaking technical regulations will contest a new look 12 round, 26 race championship which features eight major UK circuits plus, for the first time, the famous Assen Circuit in the Netherlands on 21-23 September.
The TT Circuit Assen is considered the most historic motorcycle racing circuit in the world, having hosted the premier class World Championship every year since 1949 and it is acknowledged as “The Cathedral” of motorcycling. With the appeal of the MCE Insurance BSB Championship expanding beyond the UK with International riders, worldwide television coverage and World Championship pedigree teams, this is a natural progression for the championship to have visibility in Continental Europe yet remaining accessible to the legions of British BSB fans.
The 2012 season commences at Brands Hatch on its traditional Easter weekend slot in April before heading to Thruxton one week later and Oulton Park in May. BSB then returns to the Snetterton 300 circuit, following a record attendance at last year’s debut event on the new 3-mile layout, before visiting Knockhill for the annual Scottish round in June and Oulton Park for the second time in early July. The summer Brands Hatch round on the Grand Prix circuit has been brought forward to 20-22 July to avoid a clash with the London Olympic Games.
Two weeks after the August Bank Holiday ‘Party in the Park’ at Cadwell Park, Donington Park in Leicestershire will now host the critical final round of the Main Season on 7-9 September, where the 32 riders will home in on the critical top six positions in advance of the Showdown phase.
The Showdown will take place at two current MotoGP venues with the Silverstone Arena GP circuit following Assen on 28-30 September, before concluding at the hallowed Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, scene of the epic title decider between Tommy Hill and John Hopkins last month, with a triple header finale on 12-14 October.
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive, MotorSport Vision said: “The 2012 BSB calendar is the strongest ever and this is a tribute to the extraordinary health of BSB amidst tough economic conditions that are a major challenge to many other series. It has always been a priority for MSVR to drive down the costs of competing in BSB with sport-leading technical regulations whilst driving up the quality of the show. As a result BSB is becoming ever more attractive to manufacturers, teams, riders, sponsors, circuits and fans, which means 2012 is likely to be BSB’s best year yet.”
2012 MCE Insurance BSB Calendar:
6.7.8.9 April – Brands Hatch Indy
13.14.15 April – Thruxton
5.6.7 May – Oulton Park International
25.26.27 May – Snetterton 300
22.23.24 June – Knockhill
6.7.8 July – Oulton Park International
20.21.22 July – Brands Hatch GP
25.26.27 August – Cadwell Park
7.8.9 September – Donington Park GP
21.22.23 September – TT Circuit Assen (NL)
28.29.30 September – Silverstone GP
12.13.14 October – Brands Hatch GP