Josh Brookes back on top in BSB race two and title race

2020 BSB Donington Park GP - Race Results (2)

Josh Brookes has raced into the lead of the 2020 British Superbike Championship standings with only four races of the season remaining as the quartet of title contenders avoided drama in a race of attrition that eliminated nine riders.

Brookes clawed his way back into contention with a pass for the lead on lap five, getting involved in the lead battle after feuding the Suzuki pair of Gino Rea and Kyle Ryde, plus pole sitter Jack Kennedy, exchanged the top spot in the early laps.

With Ryde forced out by technical issues and race one winner Andrew Irwin retiring after colliding with Ryan Vickers, Rea was in front by lap three before the charging VisionTrack Ducati of Brookes seized the advantage shortly afterwards.

Jason O’Halloran made up for a lacklustre 14th place in race one to ascend all the way to second place, in so doing boosting his title hopes, while McAMS Yamaha team-mate Mackenzie joined him on the podium.

After crashing early in race one, erstwhile championship leader Glenn Irwin did a sterling job to bring himself back into contention, though he’d fade to seventh eventually with Rea claiming another season’s best result in fourth, from Tommy Bridewell and Christian Iddon.

Kennedy dropped back to eighth place eventually, from Luke Mossey and Joe Francis, the latter scoring a welcome top ten result for the PR Racing BMW team.

O'Halloran starts on pole position for the third and final race of the day, from Brookes and Mackenzie on the second Yamaha R1