McAMS Yamaha man Josh Brookes has admitted his R1’s new engine gave him the pace to run at the front today and finish just behind leader Leon Haslam.
The Australian says the difference between his speed at last month’s Snetterton test and this afternoon’s practice sessions has been like night and day, gaining over a second in lap times from then to now.
And after the factory Yamaha squad has spent the early part of the season chasing suspension changes in a bid to push their progress, Brookes feels he’s now in a good position to battle at the front on the Norfolk circuit, where he last won in 2010.
“We rode here a month ago in the test, before the TT, and it was a good day with good weather – but if I had a gun to my head, I just couldn’t go any quicker than a 1’49.
“We’ve turned up here with exactly the same motorbike, with an altered engine spec, and we’re in the 47s now. I would’ve thought that 47s were possible at the test, but I just couldn’t make it happen.
“We’ve been chasing chassis, chassis, chassis all year. And we’ve turned up with the exact same motorbike and just a different engine spec, and that’s made a huge contribution to the lap times.
“I feel comfortable on the bike, I feel comfortable doing the lap times, and each session we’re going quicker. At the moment all’s good, I’m happy and everyone in the teams seems in a strong position so we’re looking good for this weekend.”