Josh Brookes back-to-back British Superbike Champion aspirations disappeared at Donington Park after a weekend as dismal as the weather.

Brookes’ slim hopes of retaining his title on the VisionTrack Ducati faded with the 2020 Champion suffering two crashes and picking up just five points from the three races.

The weekend had looked promising for the Australian when he ran in second place in Saturday’s wet race but after suffering a slide at Schwantz Curve he took to the grass, crashing as he tried to rejoin the track.
 
A lack of grip kept him down in 11th in Sunday’s dry race, after running fourth for the first half, before suffering another crash in the wet, this time at high speed down the Craner Curves. His disappointment at the end of the weekend was palpable.
 
“Saturday was a tough day and to crash out of second place after a good effort in qualifying was a massive downer and I was gutted for both myself and the team,” he said afterwards. “I obviously wasn’t alone as lots of other riders crashed out in the treacherous conditions but I was frustrated that I saved the slide and only came off because of being on the wet grass.
 
“I was still hopeful for Sunday especially as I started P3 for the first race but the day was a disaster and I’m lost for words to be honest with how the day went. We’re still struggling with the issues that have blighted us all year and if I ride at the level that’s comfortable, I finish outside the top 10 and if I ride with where I think the bike should be, I crash.
 
“On the odd occasion this season, I’ve been able to get away with it and get some sort of acceptable results but the small improvements have masked over the fundamental grip problems we’ve had.”