Brookes returns to podium at Silverstone

Josh Brookes  (Milwaukee Yamaha) fought to overcome the challenges of Silverstone for the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, with Brookes claiming a hard-fought third place in the opening race of the day.

In race one Brookes got off to a flying start to break the pack with Shane Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari. The trio were embroiled in a fierce contest for the podium places with Brookes pushing to second on several occasions before holding third at the finish. Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider Shane Byrne won the race ahead of rival Ryuichi Kiyonari on the final lap.

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Ryuichi Kiyonari will undoubtedly make the final round of the Shootout at Brands Hatch very interesting.

In the second race Brookes again was fighting with the leading pair, but a crash on lap six at Brooklands saw his hopes of a double podium shattered.

Kiyonari managed to repel Byrne, holding on to win the race by only 0.074s. Bridewell was fighting for the third place but was eventually pushed to fourth over the closing laps. With Brookes ruled out of the race, James Ellison made a welcome return to the rostrum with a strong ride on his GBmoto Kawasaki to take third.

Brookes and team-mate Tommy Bridewell hold third and fourth places in the standings ahead of the triple-header final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.

Brookes said: “I knew we had a chance of the podium but as usual we pushed on hard and made changes right up until the first race. We found something that meant I could be a part of that amazing race and it was pleasing to be back on the podium rather than parc ferme after the race. I wished I had a little bit more to put into it and have a chance for the win, but pushing for second was a great improvement. Being back on the podium and in the fight felt as good as a win to me and I would have paid for a ticket to watch that one!

“In the second race I really wanted to stay with Shakey and Kiyo again and try and push to try and go better than we did in race one. Unfortunately what happened was pretty simple – I braked too late and I crashed out. I was trying even harder on the brakes as that was where I was able to make some time up on them as that area was where I had been stronger. Physics means you can only brake so late and that lap was just too late and I was out.”

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Josh Waters in action Round 10, Assen.

Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Waters continued his rise into becoming a British Superbike Championship top-six regular with solid finishes in both races.

Waters took seventh place from a fourth-row grid spot in the opening race and fought bravely aboard his GSX-R1000 for fifth in race two.

Josh Waters: “If you had offered me a top-five finish in the dry at the start of the season I would have been peaking, but where we are now I want podiums and I could see it right in front of me in that second race. I can’t fault the team or the GSX-R1000 as it was superb today; the boys did a great job and my lap times were more consistent in race two. I’m pleased with top-five but I want to keep making progress and we can hopefully push on again at Brands Hatch for the final round.”

BSB Race 1 Results (top 10) – Title Showdown Round 2 of 3)
1. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R 29m 41.657s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Buildbase BMW S1000RR +0.084s
3. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.368s
4. Dan Linfoot GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-10R +17.952s
5. Stuart Easton GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +18.524s
6. Julien Da Costa FRA Honda Racing CBR1000RR +18.572s
7. Josh Waters AUS Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +18.924s
8. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +19.454s
9. Peter Hickman GBR RAF Reserves Honda CBR1000RR +19.490s
10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +20.387s

BSB Race 2 Results (top 10) – Title Showdown Round 2 of 3
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Buildbase BMW S1000RR 29m 35.185s
2. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +0.074s
3. James Ellison GBR GBmoto Kawasaki ZX-10R +10.008s
4. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +10.101s
5. Josh Waters AUS Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +13.766s
6. Stuart Easton GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +15.719s
7. Dan Linfoot GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-10R +15.765s
8. Julien Da Costa FRA Honda Racing CBR1000RR +15.967s
9. Peter Hickman GBR RAF Reserves Honda CBR1000RR +18.278s
10. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +21.791s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings ahead of Brands Hatch finale:
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 632
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 620
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 552
Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 550
Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 546
Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 513

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