Suspended ban for Brookes

Josh Brookes has been handed a suspended one race ban after further investigations revealed a mechanical problem was not to blame for the accident that would see Sylvain Guintoli break his leg.

Brookes and Guintoli collided at the Melbourne hairpin on the sighting lap in the run up to the opening race, the impact causing the Frenchman to break his tibia and fibula.

Although an announcement soon after the accident and prior to examination of on-board data initially determined a problem in the 'operation of the braking system' as a cause for the accident, further investigations revealed there was 'no evidence of mechanical failure'.

Instead, it was also determined that Brookes was travelling at a pace consistent with a lap at racing speed and that the difference between him and Guintoli was 'incompatible with the end of a sighting lap'.

The full ruling was stated as follows:

- The rider pumped the brake lever in the braking area on the approach to the Melbourne Hairpin.

- The pressure developed in the braking system and the reduction in wheel speed on the approach to the corner was consistent with a lap at racing speed, up to the point where the rider pumped the brake lever.

- The point at which the brakes were applied was consistent with a lap at racing speed.

Brookes did state that he did not feel the brakes were working properly, although the exact reason why the rider pumped the brake is not known.

Brookes has subsequently been given a ban of one race, suspended for three British Superbike Championship meetings.

The HM Plant Honda team have chosen not to appeal