Brookes impressed by promising Be Wiser Ducati adaptation

Josh Brookes says he’s optimistic heading into the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship opener having switched to the Be Wiser Ducati squad this winter as he gets to grips with the new V4 R.

The 2015 BSB champion partners Scott Redding in the all-new rider line-up at the Paul Bird-run squad, while all eyes are on the team with the arrival of the new Ducati V4 R which has dominated the World Superbike championship at the hands of Alvaro Bautista.

Having spent the winter adapting to the Panigale V4 R, Brookes feels he’s been able to find instant front-running pace with the new Superbike at varying circuits and with contrasting weather conditions which he hopes bodes well for the 2019 BSB campaign.

“I’m quite pleased as everything is looking very competitive at this very early stage into the season,” Brookes said. “To be so close to where we need to be is very promising considering we’ve found an excellent setup at all the tracks we’ve tested at, without doing massive changes.

“Both at Silverstone last week and previously in Europe, at totally different tracks and opposing weather conditions, we have been towards the top of the times, so we have a good working area so hopefully that transpires into a good result this weekend.”

The 2019 BSB campaign gets underway this weekend at Silverstone’s National circuit, where Brookes finished a pre-season test day third fastest and two-tenths within pace-setter Jason O’Halloran on the McAMS Yamaha - the team Brookes left to move to Be Wiser Ducati this winter.