Brookes samples new HM Plant Honda

Josh Brookes has enjoyed his first outing with the HM Plant Honda team as he begins the countdown to his maiden British Superbike Championship campaign.

Brookes, who makes the switch to the national series after a successful season in the World Supersport Championship with Stiggy Racing, was on track in Almeria to sample the CBR1000RR he will ride for 2006 and 2007 champions HM Plant this year.

Being joined at the test in Almeria, Spain by Crescent Suzuki, Hydrex Honda and team-mate Glen Richards, Brookes took his time to learn both the circuit and the bike, but was happy with his progress over the course of the day.

"Today was the first day out on track working with the new team and to also ride the HM Plant Honda so I was taking it steady to start with as I had not been out on track since the final World Supersport race at Portimao," he told the official British Superbike website.

"I felt a bit rusty in the first session but we worked through several different changes to see how the HM Plant Honda would react and we were improving on times throughout the day. It was a good opportunity for us to work together and familiarise myself with the new bike. We made a good start and I have been focusing on the changes I needed to make.

"I did some laps with Glen but he was lapping quicker as he had more knowledge of the track and by the end of play I was catching him up. I haven't paid much attention to the other riders on circuit today but I am sure as testing continues I will be seeing more of them."