Making his return to the Isle of Man TT for the first time since 2014, Josh Brookes may have been using the opening Superbike race as an extended practice session but the Australian more than proved his value around the Mountain Course with an excellent eighth place on the Norton Racing SG6 – and with a final lap in excess of 129mph, it more than shows his potential for Friday's Senior.
Speaking beforehand, the Bringelly rider openly admitted he was still readjusting to the rigours of the 37.73-mile course and while the likes of Ian Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop and co were able to be fast straight out of the box, he was having to build his speeds up steadily in only his third year at the event.
"I had to accept going into the race that I didn't have the pace, nor be confident enough, to get near the podium. There's no doubt in my mind that the bike is capable and in the hands of someone like Hutchy or Michael it would be able to achieve that target but for me, with limited laps, I've been having to take baby steps,” he told bikesportnews.com.
“It's easy to get drawn into pushing too hard but I'm still very much learning my way around here and whilst as a racer you want to be going for race wins, I've got to be happy with the end result."
An opening lap of 126.732mph placed the 2015 BSB Champion in 13th but by half race distance he was up to 10th. Circulating on his own for much of the race, changes were made to the Norton’s setup at both pit stops, enabling him to increase his pace in the final third of the race and with a final lap of 129.127mph, he was rewarded with eighth place, just 13.5s behind his team-mate and compatriot David Johnson.
"I can recognise it's easy to make a mistake here even if it's only a fraction. When I went by Michael Dunlop parked by the side of the road on the second lap, it took my concentration for a split second and I wasn't quite on line through Handley's. It takes a whole lap and 18 minutes to get that line or section right again but with each lap during the race I got more comfortable with the bike and more confident.
"We started with a really soft setting with the rear suspension but we'd gone too soft and we made adjustments to the bike at both pit stops adding both front and rear pre-load. Each time it made the bike better and we improved it a lot whilst I learnt a lot too, which will stand us in good stead for the Senior. Not everyone can win the race but it's been a strong day for the team with seventh and eighth. Both bikes ran well and were reliable and that reflects on the team.”
