Josh Brookes took fourth and fifth place finishes at Donington.

Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes admits he is disappointed to have missed out on a podium finish at the weekend’s British Superbike Championship meeting at Donington Park.

The Australian rider ran top three in the early stages of the first race but was bumped back a spot to fourth by rival rider James Ellison and gradually lost touch with the top three as the race wore on.

Brookes finished 6.866 seconds off the podium-getters and a lonely fourth, around five seconds clear of his closest pursuer.

He made a solid start to the second race but found himself in the thick of the battle for the Title Fighters placings, and consolidated for fifth.

“I’m pretty disappointed with the results,” Brookes admitted. “This time last year my lap times were good enough to win both races and I went faster this weekend and didn’t get much for mine or the team’s efforts.

“We just didn’t get the best out of the bike today, but it’s disappointing, as I’ve probably ridden as hard, or harder, than I have in the past to win races and we get fourth and fifth.

“I was pushing the front way-past where I should have been and got away with it, yet at Cadwell, I was doing the opposite and crashed.”

Though the results fell below his own expectations, his focus now turns to the six-rider Title Fighters Showdown, where he remains in good stead to challenge for a maiden title in the British championship.

“I know the team is working as hard as it can; and if we look at the bigger picture, it’s not that bad, but it has been frustrating for everyone today,” he added.

Brookes sits third on the series ladder, just 17 points shy of leader Shane Byrne.