BSB: Brookes: 'I don't feel I did anything special!'

Josh Brookes has said he doesn’t feel he did anything special as he lapped the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit 0.7sec quicker than any other rider to take pole position for tomorrow’s opening race.

The Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha man took his first pole of the year in drying conditions with a time of 1’35.198 after feeling he was able to take more risks with the YZF-R1 than other riders on track.

The pole couldn’t come at a better time for Brookes, who has shown consistent improvement throughout the season and twice finished runner-up at Snetterton.

While rival Shane Byrne has had the outright pace in the dry so far this weekend, Brookes is confident he’s quick enough to challenge for the win over race distance in tomorrow’s two outings.

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“I felt like I could risk more, and that’s what got the lap time in the end and the reason for that is because I was confident to do it,” he told MCN. “I felt I could get a little bit more crazy with the bike and it was still giving me feedback as to where I had grip, where I would slide and control it. I was at the limit; I could push the tyre a bit but felt I knew it wouldn’t disappear from under me.

“The bike gave me the confidence to push more and take more risks, I didn’t do anything special. Every lap the track changed, normally I hate riding on worn-out wets on a dry track but today for whatever reason, I was able to ride and do what was necessary to get pole and now we have to see what tomorrow brings!

“The weekend has been good for us, we’ve been fast in every session and building. We’ve still got something to try in warm-up tomorrow, but in any case I think our current setting is good enough to challenge for the win so we’ll give it our best!”

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