Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes certainly made an impact during the second MCE British Superbike free practice session at Brands Hatch this afternoon. The Bringelly rider did not really venture out in FP1 due to the mixed track conditions, and even though he did an outlap he felt it was in his best interests to remain in the pits and sat out the first session.
But the lap record holder improved his pace throughout the 45 minute second outing and finished well inside the top three, lapping consistency in the low 1.27, but did complete three laps in the 1.26 and set his quickest lap on his final rotation - a 1’26.763.
Brookes and his crew will be trying out some new things tomorrow – including testing gear changes into Hawthorns and a different approach when tackling Graham Hill Bend.
“I will be trying something different during free practice tomorrow especially taking a different angle into Graham Hill Bend and trying to go into Hawthorns in three gears rather than six. I sat out the first session because of the wet conditions. I did go out and have a look but I thought the conditions were too mixed so I waited until free practice two,” said Brookes, speaking to bikesportnews.com at the circuit.
“The second session was much better in dry conditions, and I felt that I improved each time and on my last lap I set my fastest lap and that was quicker than what I did in qualifying last year – so things are moving in the right direction. I am on the pace and up there with Byrne and Kiyo which is good.”
