MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship – Round five – 25/26/27 June – Mallory Park, Leicestershire
Josh Brookes powers into the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park this weekend in buoyant mood – the HM Plant Honda rider was a winner last time out in the country’s premier series, and last Sunday he enjoyed a winning double, on his Superstock debut for the team, in the MotoGP supporting races.
The Australian also has a point to prove at the short, but demanding Leicestershire circuit where last year he was involved in a controversial race-stopping multi-bike incident. Brookes has put that behind him and is focussed on taking the title fight to the series leading Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Tommy Hill, whom he trails by 36 points.
“I enjoyed racing the Superstock bike and winning both races and now I want more of the same – I won last time out on the Superbike at Cadwell Park and am feeling good. I believe that the better part of my year is still to come,” said Brookes.
“I have no problems about these races at Mallory. I had good feelings there last year, and if I had not had that one lapse disaster was looking good. I am going there for good points and believe that a couple of wins are on the cards,” added Brookes.
That is also the target that is team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari is setting himself, and refreshed from a trip back home to Japan to see his wife and their son who was born last month, the two times winner of the title is in good form after a strong test at Mallory Park.
Hill is ready for them, determined to make up the ground he lost with a first race tumble at Cadwell Park, with a strong points haul in this round to keep him well ahead of the rest, but, nothing will come easy for the series leader.
Stuart Easton, riding for the Swan Honda team is also on a mission, playing catch-up after a crash and then a struggle through machine problems at the Lincolnshire circuit. The Flying Scot will be re-united with his team-mate James Ellison, recovered now from the broken leg sustained during free practice for the Thruxton round in April.
“I am out there to score as many points as possible and will be approaching these races just the same as any others – I am not out there to make the numbers up and will be looking for the best possible results,” said Ellison, adding: “My immediate focus is to get into the top six in the standings and then give it a big go for the title.”
The races, over 30 laps, promise to be closely fought, with the Laverty brothers expecting to be in the front-running pack. Michael, riding for Relentless Suzuki, is currently third in the standings while Buildbase Kawasaki rider John is sixth.
Michael Rutter, a previous Mallory winner, is currently in a rich vein of form aboard the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati and cannot be discounted while Tommy Bridewell, riding the wheels off the Quay Garage Honda is long overdue a podium finish. Simon Andrews returns from injury to ride MSS Colchester Kawasaki alongside Gary Mason.
Twice World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt will make his BSB racing debut with the Motorpoint Yamaha team, and having tested at the circuit, he is “very excited about the challenge of riding in BSB.” And there is a racing return for Karl Harris aboard the East Coast Yamaha.
Hudson Kennaugh, riding the locally prepared MAR Kawasaki, will be hoping to add to his slender six points lead over Jentin BMW rider Steve Brogan in the chase for the Mirror BSB-EVO class title but they both need to check the form of Suzuki’s David Anthony and Kawasaki riding David Johnson.
