Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Australian international Josh Brookes will line up in Sydney’s final round of the 2016 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship on 17 December with the title-leading SA Kawasaki BCperformance squad.

Brookes, who endured a nightmare season in the Superbike World Championship with Milwaukee BMW this season, will make a surprise homecoming in place of the injured Ben Burke alongside champion-elect Robbie Bugden.

“I was expecting to enjoy some quiet time at home in Australia whilst Europe goes into winter and racing stops until next year, but last week I got a surprise call from Kelvin [Reilly] at SA Kawasaki BCperformance inviting me to ride the final round of the Australasian Superbike Championship series at Sydney Motorsport Park, as unfortunately their rider Ben Burke has been injured,” Brookes said.

“After the closure of Oran Park in recent years, SMSP would now be considered my home track. Having raced the last 11 years overseas in the British and World Superbike championships I found the idea of riding locally an inviting opportunity and was happy to agree to step in. Hopefully Ben makes a speedy recovery and am looking forward to and hope riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R as a one-off, back in Australia encourages people to come out and watch.”

The 2015 British Superbike Championship winner Brookes is yet to secure a seat for next season this late in the year, his future up in the air as top rides continue to be filled internationally.