Isle of Man TT return a success for Aussie Brookes 

After years away from one of the most dangerous races on the planet, Aussie Josh Brookes returned to the Isle of Man TT with a podium and a couple of PB’s.

Earlier in the month, Brookes made his long awaited return to the famous British event since his last Isle of Man TT outing in 2018.

Since his first attempt in 2013 – where he was the fastest ever newcomer – Brookes had never taken a podium in any of the classes outside of the 2017 Senior Classic on the TT Mountain Course (2017 victory), and his fastest lap average in the Senior TT race was 131.8 mph (212.1 kph).

Brookes racing his FHO Racing BMW to a P5 in the Superstock TT race

At 40-years-old, Brookes is still pushing himself as a frontrunner in the British SuperBikes (BSB) Championship, and his first outing at the Isle of Man since 2018 saw him put down some personal challenges, and come out on top.

After starting with a P7 in Race 1 of the Superbike TT on his BMW M1000RR K66, he then took out a P5 in Race 1 of the Supertwin TT on the Kawasaki ER-6F.

Back on the BMW for Race 2 of the Superstock TT, he took a best category finish of P5, as well as a PB lap time.

Although admittedly not in the category he was most hoping for a podium, Brookes took P3 on the Kawasaki in Race 2 of the Supertwin TT and was swamped by his teammates.

Brookes (L) took his first Isle of Man TT podium on the Kawasaki in Race 2 of the Supertwin TT

He took the podium despite losing some 12s in the pits after he accidentally hit the bikes kill switch with his thumb, finishing +10.214s behind winner Peter Hickman on the Yamaha R7.

In the premier Senior TT race, Brookes would take a P5 and run up a PB lap speed average of 132.5 mph (213.2 kph).

At the event Brookes gave this summary of what it meant to be back riding at the famous event, and achieving some dream goals that he could chalk up as a win.

“I achieved exactly what we hoped to really, and I probably said a bit optimistically before the event that I’d love to get a podium,” Brookes said after the final race.

Brookes found himself at the pointy end of the field in the Senior TT race with a P5. Image: Double Red Photo

“I mean I did get a podium, just not in the class I was expecting. You’ve got to dangle the carrot a little bit and give people something to look forward to.

“And to be fair, in other years what I’ve been doing this week and today would have been somewhere near a podium, but things have obviously moved on.

“I’m just over the moon and just excited to be a part of it again, I’ve been here every year (attending) but it felt like there was a big part of me missing just watching. So to be here and be one of the top men is pretty special.

“I mean, I’m not Peter Hickman or Michael Dunlop, but to be a part of it and at the sharp end of the results table…you’re one of the very few people in the world, so that’s giving me an amazing buzz.

“You don’t have to win, it’s bigger than that. I think everyone that comes across the line here is a bit of a hero, so to be up the top end of that…it’s pretty mega.”

The tight confines and high speed corners at the Isle of Man TT means the room for error is generally…none.

Unfortunately for Brookes, his return to the British SuperBikes at Knockhill in Scotland saw him slip down the table into fourth after he briefly held the championship lead at Donington Park the round prior.

Fellow Aussie Jason O’Halloran took two podiums at Knockhill however to sit sixth in the championship.

Brookes returns to action in the hunt for a third BSB championship on July 8-9 at the Snetterton 300.

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