Ahead of his move to DAO Racing, Josh Brookes has built his own Honda CBR1000RR-R in Australia.

After 14 years away, Josh Brookes will return to Honda machinery in the 2025 British Superbike Championship.

Most recently Brookes has been a BMW rider across the last two years for the FHO Racing team. However, the Australian will change teams in 2025 and join the DAO Racing squad in the new year.

In preparation for his new team and return to Honda machinery the two-time British Champion has built his own Honda CBR1000RR-R to race in the St. George Summer Night series in Australia.

'The bike ran faultlessly, I qualified on pole, and won the race.'

Brookes said: “I’ve spent the last few weeks building a Honda CBR1000RR-R in the British Superstock spec, which is the same as Australian Superbikes run. The plan was to take part in the St. George Summer Night series, which I’ve raced in for the last two years here in Australia.

"Previously I’ve partnered with an existing team but as there is no Honda representation in Australia this year it meant I had to build a bike myself if I wanted to race. This weekend was the first round and the first time I’ve been back on a Honda since 2010.

“I had booked into a ride day for Saturday daytime hoping to do a shakedown, adjust suspension, settings and check everything was in order, but as it was torrential rain all day I didn’t ride the bike at all.

"Fortunately, it dried out for the evening’s events to start but my very first ride on the bike was qualifying. I’m pleased to say the bike ran faultlessly, I qualified on pole and won the race.

“For a variety of reasons, there were quite a few names missing from this event who would normally be there, but they will be back for round two so now I’ve got some laps in, I’ll work on tuning the bike and refining it for when they return.

“This process has been super positive in many ways, but particularly generating a strong communication link with myself and my new DAO team as I’ve had a lot of support from them during the build, phone calls and advice with set up as we are all learning the Honda together.

"To build a bike myself and then race it immediately gives me great hope for what we can do together when we’ve got time and test days behind us.”