Josh Brookes expects the Oulton Park BSB test to be “pivotal” to his 2026, his second year with the DAO Racing Honda team.

Brookes was the second Honda rider in the Donington Park BSB test at the beginning of April but inside the top-10 overall in ninth. 

Ahead of the two-day Oulton Park test on 22–23 April, Brookes says he wants to arrive at the final package that he will start the season with.

“This test will play a pivotal part in our pre-season,” said Brookes.

“We still have a number of things we’d like to try and test with the bike, and these next two days at Oulton Park will be a case of tying up loose ends and putting the package together in a strong way ahead of the first round. 

“Nobody wants to be on the back foot heading into round one, and we’re going to make sure we work hard to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“I’ve got some ideas how I want this test to unfold, I have a lot of hope following on from what we have done during the last few tests, we’ll get stuck in and work hard as we always do as a team.”

For Lee Jackson, the test will be about continuing the growth of his relationship with new team members on his side of the DAO Racing garage.

“I’m really looking forward to this test at Oulton Park, it’s a track that I’ve got great memories of, but first and foremost I’m excited to get back out on the bike,” he said.

“For me I have a new crew member to get to know and understand how we’ll work together. We need get up to speed as fast as we can. 

“I feel like we’ve got a good base package already, we just need to fine tune it and start to become more consistent with it.

“I’m excited to see how the new swinging arm works around the track, it served me well at Donington Park so I’m curious to see what its strengths are around Oulton Park. 

“Fingers crossed the weather treats us well, just simply because I want to make the most of the track time we have got, I’m ready to go and get stuck in.”