Brookes finds ‘compromise’ in Thruxton fightback

Josh Brookes says key set-up and gearing changes to his McAMS Yamaha for race two at Thruxton provided him with the pace to clear off from the chasing pack to return to winning ways.

The 2015 Bennetts British Superbike champion missed out on the podium in the opener having been involved in the multiple rider battle during the opener at the Hampshire circuit before clashing with Honda’s Jason O’Halloran on the last lap at the final chicane to see him drop down to fourth place.

Brookes finds ‘compromise’ in Thruxton fightback

Josh Brookes says key set-up and gearing changes to his McAMS Yamaha for race two at Thruxton provided him with the pace to clear off from the chasing pack to return to winning ways.

The 2015 Bennetts British Superbike champion missed out on the podium in the opener having been involved in the multiple rider battle during the opener at the Hampshire circuit before clashing with Honda’s Jason O’Halloran on the last lap at the final chicane to see him drop down to fourth place.

Having made gearing adjustments between the two races and with a cleaner getaway, Brookes got past RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon to lead at the end of lap seven before quickly pulling away from the scrapping second group to control his advantage at the front to take victory.

After securing a dominant double victory last time out at Brands Hatch, Brookes feels three wins from the past four races is vital to his title hopes given Leon Haslam’s healthy championship lead.

“I’m thrilled to celebrate another victory and take these important podium credits,” Brookes said. “I’m thrilled now that we can celebrate another victory with some important points that we are desperate to claw back some points with the gap to Leon. That’s what we need to do week in and week out now.

“We were a little short geared in the opening race and I was running out of top speed so we made some changes for race two.

“We had more top end and had to ride differently through the corners but it was a good compromise.”

While Brookes trails Haslam by a huge 112 points in the regular BSB points standings he also has 27 fewer podium points than the BSB championship leader ahead of the BSB Showdown with just two round, Cadwell Park and Silverstone, and five races until the top six title fight comes into play.

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