Tyco Suzuki's Josh Brookes has hit out at the MCE British Superbike Showdown points system, saying it is degrading to be racing for what a couple of points to put towards the end of season bunfight.

Brookes took second place in this afternoon's opening race, taking the lead early only to suffer at the hands of the safety car and then getting overhauled by winner Alex Lowes on the Samsung Honda and having to contend with the attentions of Shane Byrne.

“It feels like we are racing for very little at this stage. We are looking like clear favourites for the top six, and we are putting everything on the line for one, two, three points and it feels a bit degrading to push so hard and only getting a small reward. So it is lucky that we are all racers inside and that we go for it anyway," said Brookes, speaking after the race.

“I didn’t like the fact the pace car came out, as it disturbs my rhythm, and when the pace car went away I struggled to find my rhythm again, then Alex came past me and I wasn’t too concerned at that point. Then I started to reel him in - in the middle part on the race, then he started to pull away at the end of the race. Then I had to contend with Shakey.”