Brookes steps in for Hopkins at Phillip Island
There will be one more Australian rider on the starting-grid at the opening round of the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship as Joshua Brookes takes to the field. The 28-year-old from Sydney, who has been racing in BSB for the last couple of years with TAS Suzuki (Tyco Suzuki this year) has been drafted in as a replacement for John Hopkins in the Crescent Fixi Suzuki team, following the American's crash on the opening day of private testing at the Phillip Island track.
Although Brookes' participation has not yet been confirmed, the chances of Hopkins being available are very slim. For this reason the Aussie took to the track on the final day of the test, hoping to familiarize himself with the team and the bike. But as Brookes himself pointed out, "it's been more difficult than I thought because the set up of John's bike is very different to what I am used to. It's not easy just rocking up and riding somebody else's bike and I started by trying to use John's settings. They didn't work for me, so we started to make changes and were getting there by the end of the day. I am pretty confident about the front end, but not so happy with the rear yet."
Brookes is not a new face on the World Superbike scene, having raced for Bertocchi Kawasaki in 2006 and Alto Evolution Honda the following year. In 2008 he moved down to World Supersport, finishing third overall on a Stiggy Honda behind the Ten Kate Honda duo of Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea.
"With John out of action, we decided we wanted a high calibre rider to help out so we contacted Josh Brookes," said team manager Jack Valentine. "Luckily he was able to come down and join us for the third day of the tests. He was an obvious choice - as he rides a GSXR1000 in BSB and so is part of the Suzuki family. We're grateful to him for coming down at short notice, and to Phillip Neil (TAS Suzuki) for allowing Josh to join our team. It is unlikely that John will be fit enough to ride next week so, if that is the case, Josh will take part in the official tests and the races."
