Source: BSB.

Josh Brookes scored the final Podium Point in the second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Donington Park as he held off Stuart Easton to claim third place, giving him a one-point advantage over Ryuichi Kiyonari in the standings ahead of Assen.

The Australian had battled throughout the weekend to find a set-up for the Milwaukee Yamaha and a gritty performance saw him charge his way up the order from his second row start.

Brookes was pushing over the final stages of the race, setting the fastest laps in his quest to close the gap to the leading pair, but it wasn’t enough.

Brookes said: “That was definitely the hardest I have had to ride for one point! It has been a hard weekend as it didn’t start well and I had a few problems. The whole weekend I have been trying to find a setting that worked with the gearing.

“We didn’t really find that sweet spot and it seemed to be a compromise, but we didn’t give up and we kept working throughout the weekend to make it better.

“I was able to improve my times but in race two and starting from the second row wasn’t ideal. It took me a long time to get in front of Stuart. I knew I had the speed but there was a real strong yo-yo affect of where he was quicker and where I was and it meant I couldn’t make a pass for some time.

“That gave Kiyo and Shakey the chance to get away at the front and then I had my work cut out. I did make up some time which was the most satisfying part of the weekend and now we have to get ready for Assen.”

Brookes has been in scintillating form at stages throughout the 2014 season, in a strong position to upset Byrne and Kiyonari in the highly-publicised ‘War for Four’ titles during the final three rounds.