Brookes scores wildcard entry for 2017 Phillip Island WSBK

Brookes, who's back in the British Superbike Championship (with Anvil TAG Yamaha) for 2017, will ride a Yamaha YZF-R1M at the 24-26 February Phillip Island round.

 

The R1M is actually the bike Brookes won the 2015 BSB title on, that came to Australia in the hands of Deon Coote, who's also sponsoring Brookes's wildcard entry through his 'Elite Roads' road construction business.

 

"Deon was looking to buy a bike out of the UK, built and prepped," Brookes, explained. "I started helping him out and we sourced my BSB bike - and then it got to the stage where Deon said 'we might as well do something good with it.'

 

"It would be an injustice to not see the bike on a race track, so that's how the whole wildcard thing came about.

 

"I've been flat out ever since trying to help get the whole operation together, including sourcing parts from all around the globe.

 

"Without Deon's investment and valued assistance from a number of other people this would not be happening, and I have high hopes it will all come together successfully."

 

As he's intimately familiar with his BSB title bike, Brookes is hoping for a good result at Phillip Island, where he'll be the sole Aussie representative in WSBK, racing under the 'Elite Roads Yamaha' banner.

 

"For me, the chassis is the most impressive part of the Yamaha package," Brookes added. "When the bike was handling well in 2015, it was an absolute joy to ride. Especially in those last few rounds the bike was working superbly - it just suited my riding style down to the ground.

 

"Phillip Island isn't simply a brute horsepower track, and if I am feeling home chassis-wise that will be a huge boost. And I've got all my data from 2015, which is an excellent starting point."

 

Engine-wise, the YZF-R1M - which is still in transit from the UK - will require some tweaks to bring it into line with WSBK regulations for 2017, including the fitment of a new engine management system.

 

At the Phillip Island WSBK round last year, Brookes recorded 10-9 finishes on the Milwaukee BMW S 1000 RR; which would prove to be among his better results in a season where he, the bike and the team clearly struggled. Brookes completed the 2016 WSBK season in 14th position.

 

But Brookes has better memories of Phillip Island, including 2004, where he won the World Supersport round as a wildcard, defeating countryman Kevin Curtain in a cliff-hanger finish by just 0.025 seconds.