Tyco Suzuki's Josh Brookes has no regrets about crashing out of the lead in yesterday's second MCE British Superbike race at Cadwell Park, saying it was better to crash out of the lead while having a go than to be off the podium and down the order.
The Bringelly man, who donned a cape for his sighting-lap leaps over the Mountain, took one podium credit away from the meeting, but leader Shane Byrne only bagged one more while Alex Lowes took six for his double win. Brookes showed determination, setting the fastest lap of the race as he reeled in Lowes, but it was not to be.
"Race two was weird as the grip came right back at the end of the race, which took me by surprise a little bit so I was able to get back to Alex. I had a moment at the top end of the track on the last lap then lost the front at Mansfield,” added the Tyco Suzuki man.
"I held a bit of a tighter line to go out wide on the exit but because the tyre was worn it just slid away from me and I couldn't do anything. It's the first time I have crashed in a race since 2011.
"I’ve run it over in my head a thousand times since it happened and the bottom line is, I got into the lead and just messed up. But in hindsight it was better to have a go at the win."
Brookes also had an uncharacteristic moment on the Mountain which allowed Tommy Bridewell to move past him: "I got a bit out of shape on the Mountain that time because the tyre span at the take off point and pushed me to the right a bit more. It wasn't too bad, a bit more throttle sorted that out."