June 19, 2022

Brookes And Sykes Battle Hard At Knockhill

The MCE Ducati pairing of Josh Brookes and Tom Sykes had an encouraging day at Knockhill today with three top ten finishes recorded in the two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races, with former champion Brookes recording a best result of sixth place to move within one place of the Showdown.

With the strong winds of yesterday having subsided, Brookes and Sykes started the opening 30-lap race from 12th and 15th respectively on the grid, but both were able to make good strides forward on the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4Rs and put in a number of overtaking manoeuvres. 

 

Indeed, a great start by double BSB champion Brookes saw him immediately up inside the top ten and he was rewarded at the chequered flag with a fine sixth place, his second highest finish of the season to date. Yorkshireman Sykes, meanwhile, was up into the top ten by half race distance, but ultimately had to settle for 11th.

Indeed, a great start by double BSB champion Brookes saw him immediately up inside the top ten and he was rewarded at the chequered flag with a fine sixth place, his second highest finish of the season to date. Yorkshireman Sykes, meanwhile, was up into the top ten by half race distance, but ultimately had to settle for 11th.

 

With a second row start for the final race of the weekend, Australian ace Brookes was hopeful of improving upon his sixth place and it looked like he’d do just that when he moved into third on lap 11. However, a slight mistake at the chicane a lap later dropped him back to fifth and in the second half of the race, he found himself shuffled back to an eventual seventh. Teammate Sykes, the 2013 World Superbike champion, ended his weekend with a solid tenth place.

 

The day’s results moved Brookes up to ninth overall in the championship table, just seven points off the all-important top eight Showdown places heading into the next round at Brands Hatch next month with Sykes in 14th. 

 

Josh Brookes: “We’ve shown some promise this weekend and although the results don’t show it, we’ve been a lot closer to the front and closer to fighting where we should be. We brought the progress made at Donington here to Knockhill, not a circuit I’ve enjoyed the best results in the past, and we’ve made constant steps in the right direction. We had a bit of a lull in qualifying but other than that, we’ve moved forward and whilst I was disappointed to have made a mistake in the final race, the fact we were in third place at the time is positive. It’s been a better showing all round and we can be optimistic heading into the next round.”

 

Tom Sykes: “The weekend started off well and despite not riding here for so long, I felt at home in the wet conditions on Friday. I was fastest for the most part and I felt really comfortable but despite me doing a rain dance, it was dry conditions that prevailed and that’s where we are struggling. There are lots of areas that the MCE Ducati is really good in, but in a couple of crucial ones, we have a lot of work to do. It's tough and I’m finding I’m not able to perform to my best ability but hopefully we can find an improvement soon.”

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It was a positive day for us to be fair and although the first race results were compromised again by our grid positions, the changes we’d made overnight certainly helped and Josh was able to lap quicker than what he’d done in qualifying. Row two for the final race was a million miles better and put him in a better position to be in the fight. It was nice to be at the sharp end again and it was a shame that he had one small mistake as the rest of the pack pounced on that and he went from third to an eventual seventh. He was fighting for a podium finish, and we’ll look to build on that. For Tom, he’s still trying to understand the parameters of the bike and its limitations whilst not having been to Knockhill for 14 years was always going to be tough. We’re still trying to get him comfortable on the bike and understand the changes that are being made so it was a bit of a test session, and we’ll look to re-group over the break. There are positives to take away and we go to Brands Hatch next where both riders have good memories.”

 

The next round takes place at Brands Hatch on July 22-24.

 

Bennetts British Superbike race two (30 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

3 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

 

Bennetts British Superbike race three (30 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Danny Buchan (BMW)

5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

6 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

7 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

10 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

 

Championship standings (after four rounds)

1 Ray 216 pts

2 O’Halloran 200

3 Jackson 174

4 Skinner 148

5 Ryde 141

6 Irwin 134

9 Brookes 77

14 Sykes 47

 

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

April 17, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin head to Donington Park this week for the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship R&G Official Test. After a strong run at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month, the team is looking forward to getting back on track in the UK, as the countdown to the start the 2025 season continues.  The iconic Donington Park will play host to the second pre-season test on Good Friday and Saturday, before the class of 2025 heads to Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, for the final test before the season begins over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The team is looking to build on the success of the Navarra test, where Irwin was consistently quick, setting the pace on the first day before topping the timesheets at the end of the event with a best lap of 1min 44:527s. But keen not to get caught up focusing on lap times yet, Irwin is more concerned about getting through as much work as possible during the two days and making sure the important boxes are ticked. Glenn Irwin: “We’re all looking forward to it. At Navarra, it was important we worked through a number of things which are different this year and it was a great test – but it’s important that we don’t get complacent. “At Donington we’ve more new items to try and we’ve got a list of work to get through, which will be our priority. Once we’ve done all that and have a good feeling, I think we can show up well on the timesheets, but more so in race rhythm than in one-off fast laps. “At Navarra, we found areas where I was weak last year but not this year so we were able to use this as a reference. At Donington, we know the track well and have an idea of where we need to be but for me it’s about continuing to evaluate what we have and understanding the feeling of everything rather than get too hung up on what the timesheet says. If it feels good and we’re good, we’re happy!” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: The whole Hager PBM Ducati team is looking forward to being back on home soil for the first time this year. Navarra was a really productive test for us so the team and Glenn are heading into our UK testing program in great spirits! “We are looking forward to seeing plenty of BSB fans trackside at Donington Park. Let’s hope the sun is shining for us!”
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