Brookes struggles to get a grip
Josh Brookes’ nightmare start to 2018 failed to improve at Brands when rear grip woes returned. The 2015 BSB champion struggled to break into the top ten through most of the weekend’s sessions with disaster striking in qualifying. He was unable to progress from the opening Q1 session, leaving him a lowly 20th on the grid. The McAMS Yamaha team went back to basics on Sunday morning, switching from their factory swingarm to a standard R1 version. There was some consolation for the Aussie in the wet second race as he fought through to a solid fifth position. The team are testing next week at Oulton and desperately need to sort out their bike’s handling issues if Brookes is to salvage any hopes of a Showdown spot. Brookes said: “It’s a shock for me to be in this position. I’m wondering what the hell I’m doing so far back but I have to accept that the positions I’m achieving are the best I can do for the time being. Fifth would usually be a little disappointing, but I have to take whatever I can get right now.”
And, to add insult to injury, former McAMS rider James Ellison’s pace on the bike Brookes left behind at the end of last season remains impressive. The Anvil Hire TAG Racing rider was at the sharp end throughout practice and qualifying, but struggled with tyre issues in Sunday’s first race before having to start from the back of the grid in race two.
‘Fifth would usually be a bit disappointing but I have to take it’