Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes came ridiculously close to bagging that all important pole position during the MCE British Superbike qualifying session at Brands Hatch, and now the rider is feeling a tad ‘disappointed’ this evening.
Only 0.001 seconds separated the Bringelly rider from the eventual pole-setter, PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne leaving Brookes not too happy.
But a front row start is still good for the Yamaha racer, and he is confident that he has a ‘good race package’ to fight for the top step of the podium on Sunday.
“It’s still second, it doesn’t matter how close - it’s still second. My first flyer was quite good and then when I came into the last two corners I ran wide and missed the apex and again the last turn. I knew I could improve on the lap that I did but the next two or three laps I made similar mistakes in other areas and I couldn’t piece the lap together properly,” said Brookes.
“I was quickly running out of time and the tyre was starting to move around too much, and really hanging it out, so I got one last lap together and I felt like I pieced it together quite smooth and fast but the tyre didn’t really have a lot left. For one qualifying lap, you need to use it when it’s at its best, so four flying laps wasn’t ideal, but it turned out to be a pretty good lap time anyway.
“I am quite pleased to do the lap time, but disappointed to get second. It puts us in a good position for tomorrow’s race though and I look forward to that. I think our pace and consistency is quite good. I feel like we’ve got a good race package and to start from the front row of the grid should give us a good chance to fight with whoever’s going for the lead.”
