April 16, 2022

Sykes And Brookes Score Solid Points In Opening Race

The MCE Ducati pairing of Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes got their 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship underway at Silverstone this afternoon with the duo taking hard fought 12th and 13th place finishes respectively to get points immediately on the board.

With the competition fiercer than ever, both practice and qualifying was hectic around the 1.64-mile National circuit and although the duo were well on the pace, it was Tom, who was one of 12 riders to lap inside the existing lap record, who had to be content with 12th on the grid with Australian Brookes two places further back in 14th. 

 

Held over 24 laps, Yorkshireman Sykes, who was the 2013 World Superbike champion, held station in the initial stages with 2015 and 2020 BSB champion Brookes dropping back a place to 15th although by lap six both riders started to move forward on their respective factory-supported MCE Ducati Panigale V4Rs.

However, with many of the riders on a similar pace and with overtaking difficult, they were unable to make up further ground with the chequered flag seeing Tom get four points on the board for 12th and Josh take three points for finishing one spot and just 0.083s further back. 

 

Josh Brookes: “It’s been a difficult start to the season, and I’m obviously not pleased with the result, but we made a small change for the race which was possibly the wrong way. We’d been improving steadily in practice and qualifying so the change, although not big, wasn’t helpful either and when I caught Tom it got quite difficult. Although we’re on the same bike, we’ve got different styles of riding and I didn’t want to do anything desperate trying to get by him so consolidated the position. It’s a bitter pill to swallow but it’s only race one, so we won’t get too downhearted.”

 

Tom Sykes: “Today has been a bit of a mixed bag to be honest. It was good to get the first race out of the way and get some points on the board but frustrating not to be closer to the sharp end. I made a good start and made some passes on the brakes with the bike turning really well but we’re suffering when we open the throttle as we haven’t got the traction we need. Many aspects of the bike are in the ballpark and it’s just that one area that’s holding us back this weekend so there’s a bit of work to do in that respect. I’ve got a good feeling with the bike though and there’s a great team spirit, so we’ll look to move forward tomorrow.”

 

Johnny Mowatt. Team Co-ordinator: “The results today, both in qualifying and in the race, highlight the difficulties we have at this circuit, and we need to make a few changes for tomorrow to get both riders further up the field. To be fair, in sectors one, two and three we can hold our own but in sector four, both riders are struggling to get the bike to work under acceleration. We had a decent run last year but haven’t been able to replicate that so far and although we’ve gone quicker, the rest of the field have gone that bit quicker still so there’s work to be done.” 

 

Tomorrow will see the two 30-lap races get underway at 13.30 and 16.30.

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (24 laps)

1 Glenn Irwin (Honda)

2 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) +0.139s

3 Bradley Ray (Yamaha) +0.327s

4 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki) +2.019s

5 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha) +3.533s

6 Andrew Irwin (BMW) +5.436s

12 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +13.066s

13 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +13.149s


 

Images 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.
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