Points to prove
It’s a big season ahead for these riders as they look to make big statements in the title fight
‘I want to show my quality’
Josh Brookes returned to winning ways last year but a campaign which promised plenty in the opening rounds eventually fizzled out. The Aussie found himself having to dig deep for a spot inside the top 10 as his BMW struggled at some circuits, and he watched any hopes of the title disappear.
Still, it was a step in the right direction and a reminder to fans who doubted whether Brookes would ever get back to the front after two tough campaigns with PBM Ducati.
“I never lost belief in myself, but you have to go out and show it on track,” Brookes told MCN. “It was exceptionally important to recover some confidence from people, whether it be mechanics, sponsors, fans, everybody… It’s important that they know you still have what it takes and there’s not something missing on the rider side as opposed to the mechanical side.”
Always striving for perfection, returning to winning ways isn’t enough for a rider who has two BSB titles to his name and 56 wins. Put simply, Brookes wants to cement his position as one of the top riders in the championship.
“I did an OK job last year, but I want to re-establish my quality. It’s results based, so you must produce the results to achieve that. It’s about setting lap records, winning races and taking poles regularly.
“I haven’t done it consistently for a long time now. Obviously, you need to win, but if you can’t, if you can re-establish yourself as one of the top brass, it’s the next best thing for your pride and self-worth.”
It’s still questionable whether the BMW can put together a genuine title challenge, but there is positivity in the air following Toprak’s instant results in WSBK.
Of course, there are different regulations in the world championship and the circuits are different, but parts and a sense of belief can soon filter down.
It’s a good sign and one that Brookes acknowledges, but he knows where the BSB-spec bike, which was a new model in 2023, must improve: brakes on corner entry, edge grip and corner exit.
Brookes believes the problems on corner entry could be a factor in the poor exit as he’s “forcing myself into an area where you’re rushing into the corner by braking where he has to in order to be competitive.”
New engine rules mean that Brookes’ BMW will run the ShiftCam system the bike comes with as standard, which may help with corner exit, but also lose top end speed. That said, Brookes hasn’t been able to showcase the true speed of the bike due to his corner exit woes.
Brookes and FHO Racing are an experienced team, and he knows exactly where the improvements are needed. With some work behind the scenes Brookes may be on the top step again.
‘I never lost belief but you have to show it’
Danny Kent has been named by many as a dark horse this season following his move to the newly named McAMS Racing by Mar-Train Yamaha team. The title sponsor moves across to Tim and Sonya Martin’s team following the departure of Steve Rodgers’ Raceways effort at the end of 2023.
As for Kent, he showed great potential last season with his own team onboard the Honda Fireblade. Kent bagged two podiums, but his season was cut short due to financial problems behind the scenes.
It was yet more bad luck for the 2015 Moto3 World Champion, who has seen his time in BSB plagued with injuries. Now is the time to shine and he certainly has the machinery and crew around him to succeed.
Mar-Train will receive technical support from Raceways, while Kent will be working with Yamaha Technical Director and crew chief Chris ‘Spanner’ Anderson, who has spent several seasons working on the R1. Anderson worked with
Tarran Mackenzie during his title-winning campaign in 2021. Electronics Engineer Paul Morton and Tyre Technician Emma Marshall also move across from the old Raceways team.
It’s a bike that should match Kent’s riding well, just as it does with Ryde and Vickers on the OMG machines. In fact, all riders who’ve jumped onboard the R1 in recent years have won races and, in Mackenzie and Ray’s case, titles. Kent fits the bill, but he’s yet to stand on the top step.
“I don’t get excited finishing sixth because I go racing to win,” Kent said. “I have everything I need. I’m at the point where I I’ve learnt enough about this class to go out there and deliver. I feel I’ve shown my potential, but there’s plenty more to give.”
This year is crucial in the career of Andrew Irwin. His return to Honda last season was supposed to be the kickstart he needed to return to consistent podium contention, but a fractured humerus caused by a crash during testing at Knockhill put him on the sidelines for the majority of the season.
It was a huge shame given he’d just taken two top six results at Oulton Park and gone through an extensive pre-season test programme on the Fireblade. It’s a case of what could have been, especially as brother Glenn finished second overall on the bike just one year earlier.
Now’s the time to put that behind him and put together a season many thought he could have achieved in 2023. For added motivation, he also has the defending champion alongside him the garage, so beating him would be a huge coup.
“I’m not saying I’m going into 2024 to become BSB champion, I’m going into 2024 to rebuild my career,” Irwin told MCN after confirming his spot on the grid with Honda.
“It’s been a difficult, horrendous 2023 being injured, and I want to come back in a way that I’m fast and that I’m always there.
“I just want to be competitive; that’s all I want to do. I don’t want to be fifth or sixth, I want to be fighting for podiums and be back where I feel I should be.”