BSB - Brookes wins to storm into BSB title race
Josh Brookes tasted victory for the first time this season in the first of three races at Brands Hatch to fire himself into the British Superbike title race.
Brookes' victory -- his sixth in the BSB ranks -- saw him edge out the evergreen Michael Rutter who is himself hitting form at just the right time to launch a late-season Showdown charge.
And MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Gary Mason will also fancy his chances of reaching the end-of-season play-off style title decider having claimed his second BSB podium at the Kent circuit in third place.
But while the first race of the weekend was a welcome return to form for some on the BSB periphery it was not such a good outing for the frontrunners.
Former Moto GP rider John Hopkins could only put his Crescent Suzuki in fourth with HM Plant Honda's championship leader Shane Byrne ending 16th and arch-rival Tommy Hill 19th .
The championship front runners were caught up by an incorrect tyre choice -- Kiyonari also struggled to 17th - and were forced to pit during the race with their loss proving Brookes and co's gain.
After switching from the HM Plant Honda ranks this winter Brookes has been more of a slow burner than a fast starter in 2011 but with the Showdown just one round away he looks to be hitting peak form at just the right time.
After some high-profile spills and some obvious teething problems with his new machinery Brookes had to wait until round six for his first podium of the 2011 campaign -- with a second at Snetterton.
However the 28-year-old quickly backed that up with another second place last time out at Oulton Park and having forced his way into the hallowed top six Brookes will now have designs on upsetting the big boys in the Showdown.
Brookes witnessed from across the garage what a late-season form upturn can bring last year when the early-year struggles of HM Plant teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari were replaced by race wins aplenty -- including three at the season finale -- as the Japanese ace took his third title.
British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch race one:
1. Josh Brookes (AUS) Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 22:53.718
2. Michael Rutter (GBR) Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R +2.072
3. Gary Mason (GBR) MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +2.322
4. John Hopkins (USA) Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +5.022
5. Chris Walker (GBR) Pr1mo Kawasaki ZX-10R +8.111
6. James Westmoreland (GBR) Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 +10.783
7. Graeme Gowland (GBR) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +11.626s
8. Michael Laverty (GBR) Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 +18.849
9. Jon Kirkham (GBR) Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +22.729
10. Glen Richards (AUS) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +26.227s
11. Ian Lowry (GBR) Buildbase BMW S1000RR +50.648
12. Patric Muff (SUI) Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +50.872s
13. Dan Kneen (GBR) Marks Bloom Kawasaki ZX-10R +51.114s
14. Jake Zemke (USA) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +53.014s
15. Barry Burrell (GBR) Buildbase BMW S1000RR +58.176s
16. Shane Byrne (GBR) HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR +1 lap
17. Ryuichi Kiyonari (JPN) HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR +1 lap
18. Broc Parkes (AUS) Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +1 lap
19. Tommy Hill (GBR) Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 +1 lap
20. Aaron Zanotti (GBR) Quattro Plant Spike BMW S1000RR +1 lap
21. Alex Lowes (GBR) MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +2 lap
22. Glenn Allerton (AUS) Doodson BMW S1000RR +2 laps
23. Martin Jessopp (GBR) Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R +2 lap
24. James Ellison (GBR) Sorrymate.com SMT Honda CBR1000RR +2 lap
25. Peter Hickman (GBR) Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +2 lap
26. Scott Smart (GBR) Moto Rapido Ducati 1098R +2 laps
Comment 1 - 7 of 7
TREX, What happened to brookes in race 3? Good to see kiyo finally woke up and made a fist of it in race 3!!! Don't send your answers on a postcard regarding brookes i know that that GXSR let go as i've made my suzuki(muppet)mates fully aware of with they're "hopper this" and "relentless that" Well my friends try these words for size- SHANE(SHAKEY) BYRNE 2011 BSB CHAMPION #67 POWER OF DREAMS!!!!#26 DP #27 CS
@ Richard..... agree they need to sort something out.
I think the rule change is simple..... the fastest lap only counts on the tyres you started with. simples ;)
Then the tyre change is only to try for better finishing place in the race.
Either that or change the rule completely.... the finishing place in race 1 determines the starting place in race 2.
Whichever way you look at it, it takes out the advantage of changing tyres for a better starting grid position in race2.
@Repsol Ross.... Brooks did alright in race 2! If he started on front row with Byrne & Hill then he would have been pushing for a win with his lap times. Kiyo was pants in race 2 he might not even make the top 6 at the cut off stage the way he is riding.
Hopper had a good race too and with a front row start for race 3 I think he is the favourite to take top step on the podium.
Can't wait for race 3.... even though I think there are better championships BSB always provides good close racing for the podiums.
Don't know why you like hondas so much Ross, I think the best looking sportsbike and bang for buck has to be the Suzuki GSXR 600.
I'mhappy to see either Hopper or Byrne win race 3 and also go on to win the championship. Respect to you my friend as you say.... #21 JH #67 SB
Got to sort out the tyre issue-coming in,changing tyres and setting a fast time for the next race is wrong.You should only be able to change to the same type of tyre-slick for a slick,wet to a wet etc.
Rutter picked slick's which was a good choice also
Fair enough, josh was the only one to pick the right tyre combination, we will see where he is on sunday? #67 SB #1 KIYO
half a report. where are the times?
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