With the exception of a brief foray into World Superbikes in 2017, double British Superbike champion Josh Brookes has been part of the scene here since 2009. Not only does that makes him a veteran of the series and BSB royalty, but it also pretty much makes him ‘ours’ despite his origins. His journey from Sydney, Australia, to the UK was via a three-year stop-off in the World Supersport paddock which, as well as being his ticket out of Australia, would ultimately and entirely by chance be the critical phase of his career, determining his fate for the next decade and more.
His third and final season in World Supersport was the 2008 one... and what a season that was. Andrew Pitt won his second world championship, Johnny Rea finished runner-up and switched to World Superbikes the following year, and Josh finished third in the final standings – but not without some controversy. Other contenders Broc Parkes, Fabien Foret and Joan Lascorz were all dispatched as Brookes made his breakthrough on the world stage, which ultimately got Honda on the phone to offer him a ride on the HM Plant Honda in BSB where he has been ever since.
Thirteen years, 305 race starts, 54 race wins, and two British Championship titles later… and of all the things I want to talk to him about, it’s the time he raced a little ol’ 600cc supersport bike he won a few races on some 14 years ago. While I was expecting and hoping to hear about
