2015 MCE British Superbike champion, Josh Brookes came so close to clinching his second title, but ended the season only three points adrift of eventual series winner, Shane Byrne.
The Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha rider did take the victory in the final race. His main rivals, Byrne and JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam were ahead of Brookes in the standings going into race three, but then Haslam crashed and Byrne finished in eighth.
But if Byrne failed to finish or ended lower than 12th then Brookes would have been crowned champion. In races one and two the Bringelly rider experienced some issues with the R1 but his team turned things around for him to reach the top step of the podium for the final event.
“The way that the other guys form was going coming into the round I expected an extremely difficult event to try and challenge them. Brands has always been a good circuit for me and I was optimistic but realistic that if it didn’t happen mentally I was prepared and if it folded and turned my way and I would have loved that opportunity”, said Brookes at the track.
“When I saw that Haslam crashed out I knew that Shakey he didn’t have to take any risks in the championship so I imagined it was just a race with me and Ellison. I wasn’t aware that Jason was right there in the mix either. I just gave it everything I had and it was a relief to have the bike working really well in the last race.
“The first two races this weekend we had a couple of issues not something really noticeable but enough to break my concentration and race run and to have the bike work perfectly in the last race I could ride it confidently and to be sat here to be second in the championship is a wonderful feeling.”
