Brookes clinches Michelin Superbike opener and claims new lap record Honda’s Josh Brookes (CBR1000RR) claimed an exalted double in the opening Michelin Superbike support race at the 2005 Polini Australian Grand Prix a win and new lap record. The fresh benchmark (1:35.021) came on lap two of the race, eclipsing Kawasaki pilot Jamie Stauffer’s six-month old mark of 1:35.247. In the race proper, it was either Brookes or Joe Rocker Honda teammate Adam Fergusson (CBR1000RR) who led over the start-finish line on every lap, although the former was in charge on the circuit that counted most the final. That gave him a 0.401sec win over Fergusson, with Team Suzuki’s Shawn Giles (GSX-R1000) in third. The Stauffer siblings, Daniel (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) and Jamie (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R), were fourth and fifth after contrasting races. Daniel was among the leading group in the early stages, but after he lapsed over a second in arrears of Brookes on lap six, there was no coming back. Jamie made a poor start, but in the space of one searing lap he jumped from eighth to fifth. However, with the leading quartet now out of sight, that was as far as the 26-year-old would advance. The much-improved Glenn Allerton (Team Suzuki GSX-R1000) was sixth, with Shannon Johnson (Team Yamaha YZF-R1) and Shannon Etheridge (Nova Honda CBR1000RR) right on his ducktail. The final two races will be held at 4.15pm and 5.15pm tomorrow. Brookes kicks off DENSO Supersport in style Honda maestro Josh Brookes (Joe Rocket CBR600RR) continued his peerless form around Phillip Island with a hard-fought win in the opening DENSO Supersport race today. In a journey where pole sitting privateer Mark Aitchison (Fraser Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R6) and defending Australian champion Adam Fergusson (Joe Rocker Honda CBR600RR) eliminated themselves from contention after ‘touching’ on lap one, 22-year-old Brookes always maintained his composure, and scored a 0.759sec win over Kawasaki Racing Team pilot Josh Waters (ZX-6RR). It was Brookes’ fourth consecutive Supersport win at Phillip Island, after scoring a clean sweep of the Australian title opener in early April. “Shit, riding in this country can sometimes provide its challenges,” said an exasperated Brookes. “That was another hard race, and a battle of attrition at the end. “But I held it all together and, as I’ve said before, I love racing in front of a huge crowd at the Australian Grand Prix.” Brookes spent most of the eight-lapper in active combat with fellow Honda rider Bryan Staring (Allect Racing CBR600RR), who then out-braked himself at the infamous Turn Four on the last lap. Staring, last year’s national 125 GP champion, recovered to finish third, but his off-track excursion gave Brookes a clear run to the chequered flag. Waters also enjoyed a productive contest, although he was never able to get close enough to mount a serious challenge to Brookes and Staring. Albury’s Chris Seaton (Cosway Motorcycles) made it two Kawasaki ZX-6RRs in the top four, just metres in arrears of Staring, while Jeremy Crowe (Racers Edge CBR600RR) rounded out the top five after a trouble-free run. Meantime, Fergusson and Aitchison made spectacular comebacks after their lap one shenanigans, and finished sixth and seventh respectively, just in front of Caleb Stalder (Taree Motorcycles CBR600RR). Aitchison also set the fastest lap of the race a meritorious 1:38.204 during his charge back through the pelaton. Thirty-one riders completed the first Supersport race. Brookes doubles up in DENSO Supersport by just 0.001sec! Joe Rocket Honda’s Josh Brookes (CBR600RR) has scored a sensational last-gasp win in the second DENSO Supersport race at the 2005 Polini Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix by just 0.001sec! In a signature Phillip Island drag to the finish line, and one that was impossible to decipher with the naked eye, Brookes passed Yamaha pilot Mark Aitchison (Fraser Motorcycles YZF-R6) at the death knell to make it a perfect two wins from two, with the final race tomorrow. Brookes’ elapsed time in race two was nearly four seconds’ faster than the opening hitout emblematic of the red-hot pace. Aitchison, running a YZF-R6 with special Yamaha 50th anniversary livery, led the first half of the eight-lapper, before Brookes made his move on lap five. However, the 21-year-old’s riposte a few minutes’ later was a brilliant but hairy pass on Brookes at Turn Four on the last lap. Despite ultimately losing out by a matter of millimeters, it was still the Tumbi Umbi (NSW) rider’s first national-level Supersport rostrum at Phillip Island. Aitchison wasn’t Brookes’ only opposition in race two, with the top five separated by just 0.851sec at the end of the eight-lapper. Bryan Staring (Allect Racing CBR600RR) completed hostilities with his second consecutive third position, with Adam Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda CBR600RR) and Josh Waters (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) completing the top five. Waters set the fastest lap (1:37.763) of the race. The final race will be held at 4.45pm tomorrow.