O’Halloran clashes with Brookes

Jason O’Halloran was denied a return to the rostrum for the first time since breaking his ankle in Imola after what he called an ‘overly-ambitious’ move from Josh Brookes in the opening race. O’Halloran got the better of his fellow Aussie after a mistake in the closing stages of the first race, but Brookes stuffed it up the inside into the final chicane on the last lap, pushing both riders off the track. The Honda rider flicked Brookes the bird on the cool down lap, leading to a pit-lane confrontation between the duo.

“I don’t know what he was thinking,” O’Halloran said. “It was an over-ambitious move to say the least. He’s gone beyond his capabilities today and it was to my loss as I missed out on a rostrum.” Defending his move, Brookes said: “It was best described as a lunge, but this is the British Superbike Championship and those points could make the difference between winning the title or not. “If it was the last race, last corner for the title you would absolutely make a move like that. I don’t think it was completely out of place considering it was the last turn on the last lap.”