Brand’s Hatch were the hosts of the BSB final this season. A season that crowned Milwaukee Yamaha rider Josh Brookes champion! Something he battled while ‘Shakey’ Byrne, last year’s winner, sat atop the table. “There were so many times that I went home from the racetrack, just thinking about what I could do to combat Shakey Byrne and how I can stop coming second, and how I can improve something to make that step.” Something in Brookes’ strategy must have worked as he perservered and made it through.
How did the BSB Final practice play out?
The BSB Final, Friday practice sessions saw ‘Shakey’ perform best. An unsuspecting contender challenged both him and Brookes as Howie Mainwaring, down in double figures on the league standings, set the initial pace. Brookes and ‘Shakey’ eventually strode through, though not for the whole ride. Half way and Howie returned until Ellison snuck up for the lead. The flag flew with Byrne, Mainwaring, Brookes – sitting in that order. Mossey, who recently climbed up to place third, ate their dust in tenth.
Success and surprises for race one
The datatag qualifying finished with Brookes on the front row, completed without Shakey, instead Jakub Smrz and PBM Kawasaki rider Danny Buchan. This set them off for race one. John Hopkins, racing for Panigale R, set off from sixth position. Brookes and Byrne were raising the bar every lap, continually pushing the other through their paces to stay in the lead. A lead nearly taken by Hopkins as he placed behind them in third, achieving Ducati’s first podium place of the season. “Ever since I got this ride we have been pushing for a podium – it’s been a long time coming! We’ve got so close before, so to finally get it is amazing.”
This ‘amazing’ feeling was also the tone for Aussie Brookes’ as he fought off Byrne and placed first. Securing him the win of the race and of the season! His championship points total meant no other winners in race two or three could challenge him – congratulations Brookes, the first Aussie rider to win since Troy Bayliss in 1999. “It’s amazing. For me I feel like that kid that grew up in Bringelly, a country town west of Sydney, and went to Bringelly Public School, and rode a dirt bike around in a field, and did it for fun, and then one day it was a race, and another race, and then it turned into a career.”
Byrne came a successful second whilst Christian Iddon – another underdog – placed fourth. Iddon raced ahead of top spot riders Ellison, Laverty and Linfoot.
How were Races two and three?
The title claimed, the races were for the racing. Which maybe took the edge off but still set stage for a battle. With the same pattern of Brookes and Byrne playing out, with the same result. Byrne reflected on his riding, “there was a little bit more hope in that one, because when Josh came past he didn’t disappear up the track a second a lap quicker, but there’s just a few sections on the track where he edges away and I foolishly try to make the time up into the next sectors and sort of run into corners too hot and work the front tyres too much. He’s riding great, he’s on a great package and it’s really difficult when he can disappear up the track when I feel I’m riding really well at Brands Hatch and deserve a win.” Stating “I’m just not happy with finishing second.”
Laverty, fourth in the championship, occupied third, clawing through nine spots to get there. “Starting from twelfth place on the grid made life difficult and everyone I passed in the early laps passed me straight back, so I had a bit of a fight and it took a long time to get through.” Following through from the practice session, Hopkins placed in fourth, followed by Mr Ellison.
In a complete turn around of events, Brookes didn’t make it past the finish line in the final round. His race completed with a crash on lap eight. He came out unhurt, but broke his record, this was his first non-finish of the season. This left the winning wide open. With Brookes out Byrne was hungrier than ever to step on the podium. So too, was Ellison. The battle commenced between the two. They switched up places until Ellison dropped back to third. Laverty swooped in.
Laverty kept swooping right up until the end where he pushed hard and fast ahead of them both to the finish line. His first, first place this season! Ellison made it in second and Byrne’s dreams of a final top spot crumbled as he placed third. Linfoot found fourth from Iddon and Mossey, with Buchan in seventh. Mainwaring in tenth.
Now the BSB final’s over, the season concludes…
An unexpected champion claimed the title and many firsts were achieved for riders still finding their wheels. The BSB season has seen some unfortunate crashes and tears of joy – the product of tough grit and determination – achieved by both riders and their teams.
A big congratulations to Brookes and everyone who participated in the 2015 British Superbike season! And a big thank you to BSB for their informative round-ups and action-packed photos.
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