Brookes knocked out of race by highside
Added on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Brookes knocked out of race by highside
The British Superbike season got off to a flying start yesterday with Josh Brookes being knocked out by a stunning highside in the first race, and doctors ruled him out of racing in the second.
Brookes was surprised that he walked away without any serious injuries, saying: “I’m surprised after the accident I had that I don’t have any broken bones. When I was flying through the air I thought ‘this is not going to end good’ but I’m stood here now and all the bones are intact and I’m spot on.
“I guess it only takes a little bit of a slip and it’s not recoverable. Unfortunately the back let go and it spat me off and I took the biggest, longest flight I’ve taken. I can assure you I’m not feeling the best I’ve ever felt, but I’m happy to be able to race again next weekend.”
The relentless Suzuki rider started out in the fourth row after a poor qualifying session but was expected to slowly work his way up throughout the race. After a number of crashes in front of him, Brookes ended up in second place and sought to take on the leader, Shane Byrne, when he was knocked out via highside.
Although he wasn’t knocked unconscious by the crash, doctors ruled him unfit to race in the second race after he was slow to answer their questions, although he would have ridden if he could, adding: “If it were up to me, I would’ve ridden.”
A full breakdown of the race standings:
1 Shane Byrne GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 23mins 47.412s 30 laps
2. Tommy Hill GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 +1.154s
3. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +2.657s
4. Stuart Easton GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +2.764s
5. Jon Kirkham GBR Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +3.408s
6. Michael Rutter GBR Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R +4.310s
7. Loris Baz FRA Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 +4.496s
8. Dan Linfoot GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda CBR1000RR +5.090s
9. Martin Jessopp GBR Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R +5.100s
10. Chris Walker GBR Pr1mo Kawasaki ZX-10R +7.728s
11. Glen Richards AUS WFR Honda CBR1000RR +7.920s (E)
12. Alex Lowes GBR WFR Honda CBR1000RR +9.673s (E)
13. Peter Hickman GBR Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +12.501s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Honda CBR1000RR +12.801s
15. Simon Andrews GBR PR Kawasaki ZX-10R +14.655s (E)
16. Guy Martin GBR Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 +15.886s
17. John Hopkins USA Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +15.965s
18. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +18.784s
19. Patric Muff SUI Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +19.777s (E)
20. James Hillier GBR Bournemouth Kawasaki ZX-10R +21.276s (E)
21. Barry Burrell GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +22.080s (E)
22. Aaron Zanotti GBR Quattro Plant Spike BMW S1000RR +22.180s (E)
23. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Honda CBR1000RR +22.286s (E)
24. Scott Smart GBR Moto Rapido Ducati 1098R +22.681s (E)
25. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Honda CBR1000RR +29.468s (E)
Not Classified
26. Ian Lowry GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR 26 laps completed
27. Matteo Mossa ITA 777R Suzuki GSX-R1000 23 laps completed (E)
28. Josh Brookes AUS Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 18 laps completed
29. Michael Laverty GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 10 laps completed
30. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia RSV-4 9 laps completed
31. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 9 laps completed
32. Graeme Gowland GBR WFR Honda CBR1000RR 7 laps completed (E)
33. John Laverty GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR 3 laps completed
34. James Westmoreland GBR Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 2 laps completed
