July 23, 2022

Top Six For Brookes At Brands

MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes enjoyed one of his strongest rides of the season in the opening race of round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season at Brands Hatch this afternoon, coming home in sixth place and just 5.5 seconds behind race winner Jason O’Halloran.

After three solid free practice sessions which saw Brookes and teammate Tom Sykes sit in eighth and 14th respectively, both riders were able to improve their lap times and positions in this qualifying session, with Josh moving up to a fine sixth which was good enough for a second row start and Tom up to 12th.

 

The 15-lap race got underway in perfect conditions at the Kent venue and Josh maintained his sixth place on the opening lap around the undulating 2.4-mile circuit although Tom slipped back two places from his starting position.

Josh was overhauled two laps later by Kawasaki’s Rory Skinner and the duo found themselves locked in battle until two thirds race distance when former double BSB champion Brookes worked his way by on the factory supported and MCE Insurance-backed PBM Ducati. He was able to keep the young Scot at bay and duly took a strong sixth place which enabled him to move up to eighth in the championship standings and into one of the Showdown positions.

 

Further back, 2013 World Superbike Champion Sykes got pushed back to 15th on lap four. But gained a place back when Ryan Vickers crashed out at half race distance. With two laps to go, he overhauled Andrew Irwin to move up to 13th, a position he held until the chequered flag.

 

Josh Brookes: “Starting from the second row was a bit more like it but just before the start, the bike temperature went up to 120 degrees. I thought it was from the heat of the day and although it dropped, it only went to 110 rather than the 90 it usually runs at. It distracted me in the early laps and allowed the front five riders to get away but when I realised it wasn’t going to get any worse, I concentrated on getting into a decent rhythm. It was a bit frustrating as we’re so close to the front group now but we’re making progress all the time and to now be in the top eight is something. We’ll hope to make another step tomorrow.”

 

Tom Sykes: “It didn’t take me too long to get into the 1:25’s on Friday, which is a very respectable time around the Brands GP circuit, and I hoped to progress from there, but I haven’t been able to do what I’d like with the bike. Corner entry is fine but, in the middle and on the exit, it’s not doing what I’d expect and I’m losing a lot of time which is really disappointing. We’ll keep working and will hopefully find something for tomorrow.”

 

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “The progress we’ve been making with Josh in the last couple of rounds has continued here at Brands Hatch and to only be 3.5 seconds off the podium is something we could only dream of at the beginning of the season. There hasn’t been a miracle fix but we’ve kept chipping away and with a good grid position putting us in the mix, he was able to convert it into a strong result. Tom’s still struggling and with him not having the experience on the bike like Josh, it’s taking longer to get to where he wants to be but, again, we’ll keep chipping away.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Sprint race (15 laps)

1 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)

2 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Bradley Ray (Yamaha)

5 Kyle Ryde (Yamaha)

6 Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati)

13 Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati)

 

Championship Standings

1 Ray 229pts

2 O’Halloran 225

3 Jackson 181

4 Skinner 157

5 Ryde 152

6 Irwin 134

8 Brookes 87

15 Sykes 50

 

 

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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