Brookes ready for BSB title defence, Ducati ‘bike is a proven winner’

Josh Brookes heads into this weekend’s round one of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike campaign as the man to beat following his championship winning season in 2020. 

Alongside Brands Hatch, Oulton Park is statistically one of Brookes’ better venues as he’s claimed eight wins and 20 other podiums in total.

With Ducati’s vast winning pedigree and Brookes’ experience of 11 years - 2021 will be his 12th BSB season, the Australian is a formidable opponent as many of his rivals found out last year.   

Brookes is confident that difficulties in making ‘massive improvements’ to the Ducati Panigale V4 R, is due to the bike being ‘a proven winner’. 

Speaking ahead of the season opener, Brookes said: "Oulton Park is going to be interesting and I’m excited to start the season there. It’s a unique track and I have some good form there and a history of good results over the years which is a positive for us. 

"We tried a lot of things in testing but as we know, the bike is a proven winner, so it’s been difficult to make massive improvements to it. 

"But we never stop working and there is always something to try and refine. 

"As for me, I’m more of a race guy than a tester and it’s all about getting results from the races so hopefully we can make a good start to the season."