Source: Supplied.

Australia’s Josh Brookes has turned his first laps on the Anvil Hire Yamaha that he will race in the 2017 British Superbike Championship, during a private test at Jerez, Spain.

Brookes, 33, returned to Europe following his high-profile Phillip Island World Superbike wildcard, to make his debut with the TAG Racing operation.

Despite rain affecting the opening two days, the team worked collectively on what they were able to, before dryer track conditions enabled them to progress further on Monday.

“The test was positive because it was the first outing,” Brookes recalled. “Irrespective of what we changed with the bike, we needed to get that first test out of the way and get the ball rolling so to speak.

“The weather was bad and we had limited track time, but the whole purpose of being there from riding the bike, getting to know everything and everyone was positive.

“The bike is something that is already familiar with me, so I don’t need to get to know the machine because I know from previous experience what it takes to go quick with it. It’s just a process of getting to know the team and the people involved.

“I didn’t put any pressure on the them or myself ahead of the test, I just let it be what it was. I was confident before we headed to Jerez, the bike is the same as 2015 and I know the it’s capable of winning races. I’m now looking forward to Donington.”

Team manager Gary Winfield said the knowledge of Brookes with the R1 was a major benefit for the team, already during the initial shakedown in Spain.

“Although the weather hasn’t been kind to us this weekend with more or less two wet days, we have worked through a big program of testing and we have found a very good base setting to work from at Donington,” he said.

“Josh’s knowledge of the R1 has helped massively and he knows what he wants from the bike, which helps everyone in the team pull in the right direction. Instantly he felt at home, we found some issues with the ECU, but we worked hard together to solve those and it’s now looking very positive for the start of the season.”

“It’s important we now carry on this momentum into the Donington test and then round one, because at the moment, it’s looking very positive.”

The team now have two weeks to prepare before the official pre-season test at Donington Park on 22 March, just one week out from round one of the 2017 between 31 March-2 April.