That day, Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was the best. And despite all Josh Brookes' efforts he couldn't get the better of the leader at the last event of the season at the Brands Hatch circuit on 14 October. Yet he didn't give up the fight ingloriously, finishing 3rd in race one and 2nd in the two others, after the very fine overtaking by Lowes and then Burrell in race two and after leading in race three until the penultimate lap.
These results allow the Tyco Suzuki rider to become British Superbike Vice-Champion! 'I would of course have preferred to win the championship,' he commented. 'But I finished all the season's races, podiuming most of the time. Quite honestly, I don't know what more I could have done. I thank the team and those who supported me this year.' For team manager, Philip Neill, 'I'm very proud of our team for this very fine race season. We didn't suffer any retirements and Josh is the only rider to have succeeded such a performance.' His team-mate, Alastair Seeley, less lucky, didn't manage to cross the arrival line.
Before turning the page on this championship, mention must be made of the very fine win in Assen of team newcomer, PJ Jacobsen, in Supersport 600. Next year, still with Tyco Suzuki, Josh Brookes firmly intends to climb the highest step of the podium at the end of the season!
Standings
01// Shane Byrne, Rapid Sollicitors Kawasaki, 683 pts
02// Josh Brookes, Tyco Suzuki, 655 pts - Motul
03// Tommy Hill, Swan Yamaha, 612 pts
13// Alastair Seeley, Tyco Suzuki, 95 pts - Motul
Photo credits: suzuki-racing.com
