Teams unite to slam Brookes “stupidity”
Added on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Teams unite to slam Brookes “stupidity”
The fall-out from Sunday’s British Superbike round at Mallory Park has continued, with rider’s caught up in Josh Brookes’ hairpin crash lining up to criticise the race one result.
A low-site crash at the Mallory Park hairpin brought chaos to Sunday’s opening race, with the six leading riders all caught in the freak accident that led to the race being red flagged and Yamaha’s James Ellison controversially being declared the winner.
HM Plant Honda Brookes has since received a two-round suspension from British Superbike competition for dangerous riding but that did little to appease the discontent across the paddock, with Buildbase Kawasaki team manager Stuart Hicken slamming the Australian’s “stupidity”.
“I can’t accept the stupidity of Brookes” fumed Hicken.
Brookes was also involved in a similar crash with Suzuki rider Sylvain Guintoli earlier in the season and Hicken believed that a “two strikes” stance was the only acceptable course of action.
“I can forgive it happening once like at Donington but it can’t be excused a second time and I wouldn’t want to see him on the grid on the second race here or at Brands,” he added. Something needs to be done.
“We’ve worked really hard for two days to give us a chance of a podium and that’s what we thought John could achieve. ”
MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Simon Andrews was also defiant after the controversial result, claiming that the race was “his win”, regardless of what the records show.
“We ran at the front for twenty laps,” said Andrews. “I don’t care what the race results say. I don’t care what happened. That was our win.
“My chance to set the record straight is in three weeks at Brands Hatch, that’s all I’m focusing on now,” he added.
Suzuki’s stand-in rider Tommy Hill was also quick to add his comments after his debut ride on the Worx Suzuki, claiming that he was “robbed” of a podium finish.
“I’m devastated about the race one result,” he admitted. “I feel we were robbed.
“We put so much effort in all weekend, only for things to turn around like they did and the result to be taken away from us. It was through no fault of mine or the team, or any other rider out there except one and it’s a lot to accept.”
HM Plant Honda and Brookes have declined the offer of an appeal against the rider’s suspension.
How do you think the incident at Mallory Park has been handled? Do the rules need changing? Discuss Sunday’s controversy in the Insidebikes Forum.
