Front-end fixes see Brookes move up to third

Josh Brookes says technical tweaks to the front-end of his McAMS Yamaha unlocked his charge to the podium and with it third place in the Bennetts British Superbike championship standings.

The 2015 BSB champion endured a difficult opening race at Assen down in ninth place but adjustments to his YZF-R1’s front-end provided him with the package to run at the front on his way to second place behind double winner Leon Haslam.

Despite mathematically losing the chance to fight for the BSB title, slipping 97 points behind Haslam ahead of the triple-header final round, Brookes was satisfied to be able to battle for the win again and take his first rostrum since race two at Silverstone.

“It was a pleasure to ride again as after race one,” Brookes said. “We made changes to the bike and I immediately felt more at ease from the first corner at the start. The bike just felt more underneath me with better control, grip, steering and I could stop it. It was mostly front-end related.

“Where I really improved was in the font as we managed to make it feel like my own and I could attack each corner. I really enjoyed the race, sure coming second isn’t what we set out to do, but I really enjoy being able to fight corner to corner and feel like myself again.

“It would be great to finish the season on a positive note as it has certainly been a struggle this season and not where we expected to be but it would be nice to finish off the year in a strong way.”

Going into the 2018 final round at Brands Hatch, Brookes heads up the tussle for third place in the BSB standings by three points from Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin, with Smiths Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman five points back in fifth place.