Hatch me if you can BROOKES IS GOING FOR BROKE TO STOP SCOTT
JOSH BROOKES says he has “nothing to lose” after drawing first blood at Brands Hatch ahead of the final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
The Wiser Ducati rider yesterday clocked a best lap of
1min 28.873secs while team-mate and title favourite
Scott Redding was fourth quickest, almost a second slower.
Brookes (inset), who trails Redding by 28 points, knows he has to win all three of this weekend’s races if he is to stop the former MotoGP star from stealing the title before he Be heads off next year.
“There’s a lot less pressure on me,” he said.
“I’ve just got to go out and win some races while Scott only has to come second and can win the championship. “But that means the pressure is on him to do it.
“I can possibly win it but he can lose it. If I don’t win all the races I’ll end up second, which is where I am now, so I’ve got nothing to lose. The pressure is off me.” While Redding (right) is still he title favourite, Brookes to World Superbikes knows if there is any track where he can turn his fortunes around, it is at Brands Hatch.
This summer he was crowned King of Brands for the third time after storming to two wins, making him the most successful current rider at the Kent track – something he plans to use to his advantage.
He added: “I know absolutely I can take it to Scott and it could mentally have an effect on him knowing I won earlier in the year. I don’t know how much difference it will make but I can put up a good fight.”
FS-3 Racing’s Danny Buchan was second fastest yesterday with Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon third. Tommy Bridewell, the only other rider who can win the title, was seventh.