May 22, 2022

Solid Points For Brookes And Sykes At Donington

The MCE Ducati team ended round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park today in a positive fashion with Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes racking up solid points in both races inside the top eight.

The results from yesterday’s eBay Sprint race meant that the duo lined up in 12th and 13th on the grid for today’s opening 26-lap race with ex World Superbike champion Sykes the higher placed of the two riders and with good conditions all around the 1.97-mile National circuit, they both gained a place on the opening lap.

 

Positions remained static for much of the race although Sykes did get as high as ninth on the factory-supported and MCE Insurance-backed Ducati Panigale V4R but by half race distance, the PBM pairing were running close together around the fringes of the top ten. In the closing stages, former double BSB champion Brookes managed to overhaul his teammate and so it was the Australian who claimed tenth with Yorkshireman Sykes taking his second successive 11th place of the weekend.

The final race saw the two riders start alongside each other on the fourth row and although they slipped back in the early stages, a safety car period allowed them to close back up to the group ahead and from lap ten onwards they steadily moved forward.

 

A couple of laps later, they were both running inside the top ten with Brookes moving up to seventh on lap 18. It looked like he’d secure the position, but Huddersfield’s Sykes had other ideas and he took over the position in the closing stages of the race to take his best result of the season. Brookes took the chequered flag right behind in eighth which moved him up into the top ten of the championship standings at this early stage of the season.

 

Tom Sykes: “We’re continually making changes to understand the bike more and find solutions so a big thanks to the team and whilst we know we’re not where we want to be, everyone’s staying patient. The final race of the weekend was obviously the best and, in some sectors, I was quicker than some of the other riders and able to make some clean passes. With a clear track, I was able to ride more naturally with strong lap times right up until the end of the race. We’ve two strong riders in the team and there’s no doubting the capabilities of anything, anywhere so we’ll keep improving as I’m very keen to taste the champagne again!”

 

Josh Brookes: “We’ve made marginal progress today, but it’s been progress nonetheless and the bike felt better in the final race. The grip was better and for the first time in a while, I was able to battle with other riders, so it was nice to pass people and race people again! We know we’ve several issues that still need to be resolved and whilst it’s hard to be excited with eighth and 11th, it’s still nice to make a step forward and close the gaps. There’s a long way to go so we’ll keep trying as we all want to be back at the sharp end.”

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a positive end to the weekend and nice to see the riders end their weekend on a bit of a high. We’ve a few fundamental limitations with the bike at present so can’t be happy with the results and whilst the way Tom and Josh ride is totally different, their lap times are ultimately similar. We need to get to the bottom of the issues and address them fully whilst we also need to be stronger in qualifying as grid position is really hindering us.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (26 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Peter Hickman (BMW)

5 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

6 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

10 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

11 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (26 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

3 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)

5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

6 Christian Iddon (Suzuki)

7 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

8 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

 

Current standings

1 Ray 158pts

2 O’Halloran 130

3 Jackson 125

4 Ryde 117

5 Skinner 116

6 Irwin 107

10 Brookes 52

14 Sykes 32

 

 

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

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

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.
More Posts