鈥淭he final round of the 2026 BHR Championship at Cadwell Park brought the racing season to a close, with Brook Built Racing competing across two classes and with two very different machines.

鈥淭he听Honda CB350K4听continued its Classic 350 campaign in听Race 14B 鈥� A. Read Associates Ltd. Classic 350, while the newly acquired听Brook Built Racing Kawasaki ZXR400听made its short-circuit debut in听Race 29A 鈥� Pre-2000 Sports Production up to 400cc.

鈥淭he Cadwell weekend delivered some close racing, challenging conditions and valuable development work on the Kawasaki, providing an excellent conclusion to the team’s 2026 programme.鈥�

HONDA CB350K4 鈥� CLASSIC 350

鈥淭he Honda produced four competitive races at Cadwell, with the weekend featuring everything from dry conditions to a damp track following overnight rain.鈥�

Race 1 鈥� 3rd in Class

鈥淎 poor qualifying position left us with plenty of work to do from the start.

鈥淎 strong opening lap moved us into听4th in class, before the focus turned to closing down Joe Taylor.

鈥淎t the front, Paul Hogan and Paul Wood established a strong pace and eventually finished first and second respectively.

鈥淭he battle for third went right to the flag. We managed to make the decisive move and听pip Joe Taylor on the line to take 3rd in class.

鈥淎 strong recovery from the qualifying position provided a positive start to the weekend.鈥�

Race 2 鈥� 2nd in Class

鈥淥riginally postponed from Saturday’s programme, Race 2 was eventually run on a听damp and wet but drying circuit听following overnight rain.

鈥淭his presented a new challenge, being our first race in these conditions on a classic bike. With wet tyres and tyre warmers not permitted, tyre feedback and rider confidence were particularly important.

鈥淭he standard tyres performed extremely well, providing good feedback as the circuit dried.

鈥淲e initially听led the Classic 350 class and ran 3rd overall, but Joe Taylor’s experience in the damp sections proved decisive. He made the pass for third overall and the class lead.

鈥淲e ultimately finished听2nd in class, with Phil Hogan completing the podium.鈥�

Result:
1st 鈥� Joe Taylor
2nd 鈥� Brook Built Racing
3rd 鈥� Phil Hogan

Race 3 鈥� 2nd in Class / Fastest Lap

鈥淩eturning to a dry circuit, we started from a good grid position and made what initially appeared to be a strong start.

鈥淗owever, the faster 500cc machines quickly came through, forcing us to concentrate on limiting the positions lost during the opening lap.

鈥淲e remained at the head of the 350cc class until Paul Wood produced an excellent pass at Mansfield.

鈥淧aul then used the traffic to his advantage, placing a couple of 500cc machines between the two 350s through the chicane. This gave him clear track and allowed him to establish an advantage.

鈥淥nce clear of the traffic, we began to close the gap and pushed hard through to the finish.

鈥淭he effort produced the听fastest lap of the race, but Paul held the advantage to the flag.鈥�

搁别蝉耻濒迟:听2nd in class, with Phil Hogan 3rd.

Race 4 鈥� Class Victory

鈥淭he final Honda race of the weekend provided the perfect conclusion to the CB350K4 campaign.

鈥淪tarting from a strong grid position, we made an excellent start and immediately tagged onto a couple of the faster 500cc machines.

鈥淭heir pace helped us establish a gap over the rest of the 350cc field, and we successfully maintained the class lead to the chequered flag.鈥�

The result was a听Class 350 victory.

Result:
1st 鈥� Brook Built Racing
2nd 鈥� Paul Wood
3rd 鈥� Phil Hogan

KAWASAKI ZXR400

鈥淐adwell Park also marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Brook Built Racing, with the first short-circuit race meeting for our newly acquired听Brook Built Racing Kawasaki ZXR400.

鈥淭he bike was entered into the听Pre-2000 Sports Production up to 400cc听category, competing within a mixed grid that included 400cc machines, 650cc twins, 750cc multi-cylinder bikes, 800cc air-cooled machinery, open singles and 1000cc twins, alongside the superbikes and Supersports of the era.

鈥淔or this first meeting, the priority was very clear:

鈥淒evelop the bike, gather information and understand what is required to make it competitive.

鈥淭he Kawasaki was not fuelling correctly, so the weekend became an important development exercise. We worked progressively through the problem, making improvements throughout the meeting while gathering valuable information about the bike’s behaviour and identifying the work required over the winter.

鈥淭he races themselves were enjoyable, although the mixed-class nature of the grid meant that there were relatively few direct class battles.

鈥淒espite the development focus, the ZXR400 produced some very encouraging results.鈥�

ZXR400 鈥� Class Results

Race 1 鈥� 2nd

Race 2 鈥� 1st

Race 3 鈥� DNS

Race 4 鈥� 4th

鈥淭he class victory in Race 2 was particularly encouraging for a bike at the beginning of its development programme.

鈥淢ore importantly, Cadwell provided valuable track time and helped establish a clear direction for the winter development work.

鈥淭he objective now is to address the fuelling issues, further develop the Kawasaki and return in 2027 with a much better understanding of the machine and its potential.鈥�

2026 SEASON REVIEW

鈥淐adwell Park brought the curtain down on what has been an exceptional year for Brook Built Racing.

鈥淭he 2026 season has been a journey into听classic motorcycle racing, taking the team from its BHR Championship programme through to the听Classic TT.

鈥淭he Honda CB350K4 has provided competitive and enjoyable racing throughout the year, while the introduction of the ZXR400 has opened a new avenue for the team and given us an exciting development project heading into 2027.

鈥淭he season has provided an enormous amount of experience, both on the circuit and behind the scenes, and has given the team a strong platform from which to continue developing.鈥�

Photos: Mark Barthorpe & Paul Foster

鈥淭he 2026 Classic TT was always going to be a challenge. Preparing a pair of very different bikes for the famous 37戮-mile Mountain Course, learning the circuit as a newcomer, and then racing against some of the best historic machinery and riders made for an experience I will never forget.

鈥淭he little Honda CB350 K4 had already been a joy to ride throughout the year, but before heading to the Isle of Man it received a serious makeover for the Classic TT. We fitted a new engine, a larger-capacity fuel tank to allow three laps, a megaphone exhaust and new fairings and paint, along with countless smaller details and hours of preparation. The aim was simple: make the little Honda as capable and reliable as possible for the demands of the Mountain Course.

鈥淥ne of the biggest moments of the week came with my newcomer lap, led by Carolynn Sells who controlled the lap superbly and settled any nerves.

鈥淐ompleting that lap was a fantastic experience and a major milestone. There is something very special about finally getting out onto the Mountain Course after all the preparation and anticipation. Huge thanks to everyone who helped make it happen, particularly Ben Long, Grahame Collinge and Andrew Read, as well as everyone who supported me throughout the Classic TT.

鈥淭he next challenge was to take the OC Graphics ZXR400 out on course, although the weather was already beginning to dictate the programme. At the TT, you quickly learn that plans can change in an instant.”

鈥淢y first experience of being out on the course by myself proved to be particularly eventful.

鈥淔irst up was the ZXR400 in the Ultra Lightweight class. With more time and the right parts available, I would have rebuilt the engine properly, but we took a chance and hoped it would manage a couple of laps. The Mountain Course tests everything, and unfortunately this proved to be a mistake.

鈥淭he bike felt weak almost from the start. I noticed the engine temperature beginning to rise from Sulby, and then, coming out of the Gooseneck, the engine lost a little more power. It wasn’t enough to stop me immediately, and I hoped I could get over the mountain and make it to the next session.

鈥淭hat wasn’t to be.

鈥淓ven though the engine had been tested on the dyno and at Jurby, it finally gave up at Joey’s, around a mile beyond the Gooseneck. I pulled the bike into a safe place and began the long journey back towards the paddock on foot.

鈥淐rossing open moorland with gorse bushes, dry stone walls and barbed-wire fences certainly wasn’t how I had imagined the day going. I eventually made it back to the Gooseneck, where a fellow called Russell kindly gave me a lift back to the paddock, just in time for the Historic Classic.

鈥淔ortunately, the little CB350 K4 was ready to go, and it was a completely different experience. The bike has been a joy to ride all year and had received a huge amount of attention in preparation for this event. We managed to complete a lap, although I had planned to go for two before the session was eventually stopped by a chequered flag.

鈥淭he evening session was cancelled, giving the team a chance to regroup.

鈥淕rahame Collinge and Ben Long retrieved the ZXR400, while Andrew Read and I concentrated on preparing the 350.

鈥淭he lads then put in a huge amount of work, staying up late to carry out an engine swap in the 400 and get it ready for another attempt. That effort summed up the team perfectly. They were constantly being challenged, but they never stopped working to find a solution.

鈥淚 couldn’t have wished for a better group of people around me.

鈥淚 also want to give a special mention to the Mike Hailwood Foundation, who do so much work supporting newcomers at both the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT. Their help and encouragement are hugely appreciated.”

鈥淭he following days brought more progress on the CB350 K4.

鈥淭he meeting was being heavily affected by the weather, so every opportunity to get laps in became important. We managed to complete more laps and reached another significant milestone: the chance to put together two consecutive laps and four laps in total.

鈥淒uring one lap, I was black-flagged at the end of Sulby Straight because officials believed there was a loose exhaust pipe. Nothing was found to be wrong, and I was allowed to continue.

鈥淥n the second lap I could push a little harder and begin to understand what the course was like at speed. Learning was the biggest focus of the year, and with a few damp patches around the course I was very conscious of the low-adhesion flags and making sure I respected the conditions.

鈥淚t was another step forward, and one that the whole team could be proud of.

鈥淭he K4 was running well and sounded fantastic.

Meanwhile, the ZXR400 continued to give us headaches. We had tried to get it ready, but after another late night we found a small water leak and the engine still sounded rough. We made the decision to park it for the day rather than take another unnecessary risk.

鈥淲ith the evening practice cancelled, Ben Long once again set about trying to make the ZXR ready for the rest of the Classic TT.

Another engine swap later 鈥� and another long night for the team 鈥� we hoped we might finally have a bike ready to go.

鈥淔riday practice went really well.

鈥淚 managed two laps on the CB350 K4 and another lap on the ZXR400. The 400 was still a little asthmatic and down on speed, but after everything that had happened, simply getting it back around the course was a great achievement.

鈥淭hat should have been the end of the day, with the plan to relax for the evening and begin preparing for Monday’s racing.

鈥淏ut, as anyone who knows the TT will tell you, you can’t plan too far ahead.

鈥淛ust as the lads sat down with a well-earned pint, we found out that the entire schedule had been brought forward by two days because of incoming weather.

鈥淎 good call by the organisers, in my opinion, but it meant everyone had to get straight back into race mode.听

鈥淩ace day began with two qualifying laps on the ZXR400.

鈥淭he first lap was disappointing. The bike felt slow and asthmatic, so Ben immediately went to work, removing the carbs so I could change the jets.

鈥淭he second lap was much better, with a noticeable improvement in performance. At least we were moving in the right direction.

鈥淭hen came the Historic Junior Classic TT race on the CB350 K4 鈥� our first Classic TT race.

鈥淭he first lap and a half were fantastic. The little Honda was singing, and everything was going exactly as we’d hoped.

鈥淭hen, through Kirk Michael, it suddenly dropped onto one cylinder.

鈥淚 kept going and hoped it might come back, but it didn’t. Eventually I pulled in at Rencullen.

鈥淭wo racers passed me before I spotted the problem: the plug cap had come off.

鈥淟uckily, it was a simple fix.

鈥淚 pushed the cap back into place, bump-started the bike and got going again. I even managed to repass one of the riders before the finish.

鈥淭o get our first TT start and finish was a fantastic feeling.

鈥淎fter all the preparation, setbacks and late nights, simply seeing that chequered flag was something special.

鈥淭he next day was the Ultra Lightweight race on the ZXR400.

鈥淚t didn’t go to plan in the end, but while it lasted, I absolutely loved it.

鈥淥n the first lap I managed to catch ten seconds on the rider ahead on the road. We swapped places several times before reaching the first-lap pit stop, giving me another completely new experience.

鈥淭he lads did a fantastic job in the pit stop, and I managed to make up another twenty seconds to the next rider.

鈥淯nfortunately, on the run towards Ballacrain, the throttle cable snapped.

鈥淭hat brought the race to an end.

鈥淚t was frustrating, especially after all the work that had gone into getting the 400 back on the grid, but that’s racing 鈥� and particularly racing around the TT Mountain Course.

鈥淭here was, however, something to celebrate. We received a finishers medal for the previous day’s Historic Classic Junior race.”

鈥淥ne race remained: the three-lap Historic Senior 500cc race on the CB350 K4.

鈥淭he final race brought almost perfect conditions.

鈥淎fter everything that had happened during the week, the CB350 K4 was ready to take on three laps of the Mountain Course.

鈥淭he race was brilliant.

鈥淭he little 350 was running well and I was thoroughly enjoying every mile. We were running in 10th place and, with another few miles, there was a real possibility of bringing the bike home with a very good result. But the Mountain Course had the final word. At Hailwood Heights, the bike expired.

鈥淕utted is an understatement.

鈥淎fter all the work from the team, all the late nights, the engine changes, the preparation, the weather interruptions and the effort that had gone into getting both bikes onto the grid, to be so close to the finish and then have the bike fail was incredibly disappointing.

鈥淏ut that’s racing at the TT.

鈥淎nd despite the disappointment, I wouldn’t change the experience for the world.

鈥淟ooking back over the Classic TT, the results only tell part of the story.

鈥淭here were the laps, the races, the mechanical failures and the chequered flags. But there was also the learning, the atmosphere, the people and the sheer effort required behind the scenes to make everything happen.

鈥淔rom preparing the CB350 K4 before the event, to recovering the broken ZXR400, changing engines late into the night, rebuilding and preparing bikes between sessions, adjusting carburation and constantly adapting to the weather and schedule 鈥� the team never stopped.

鈥淏en Long, Grahame Collinge and Andrew Read deserve enormous credit for everything they did. Their commitment and determination were incredible, and I could not have wished for a better team around me.

鈥淎 huge thank you to 91传媒 for helping keep us safe and performing at our best at the Classic TT. Their braking performance, reliability and confidence under hard riding conditions make a real difference when every corner counts. We鈥檙e proud to have 91传媒 supporting us on the bike 鈥� thank you for being part of the team!

鈥淭hank you as well to everyone who helped, supported and encouraged us throughout the Classic TT, including the Mike Hailwood Foundation and all those who helped newcomers experience this incredible event.

鈥淎nd thank you to everyone who provided photographs and captured the moments throughout the week.

鈥淭he 2026 Classic TT gave me my newcomer lap, my first laps alone on the Mountain Course, my first TT race start, my first TT finish, a finishers medal, some fantastic racing 鈥� and plenty of lessons along the way.

鈥淭he bikes may not have made it to the end of every race, but we kept pushing, kept learning and kept getting back out there.

鈥淭hat is what the TT is all about.

鈥淲hat an experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.鈥�

Pics: Mark Huckerby/RC Photos/Tracey Harrison

鈥淏rook Built Racing competed at the British Historic Racing Club meeting at Darley Moor on 18鈥�19 July aboard the A Read Associates Ltd. Honda CB350 K4.

鈥淭his was a late change to our racing programme. Our original plan had been to compete at Scarborough on the SuperTwin, but following the incident at the Southern 100, the bike required more extensive repairs than initially anticipated. Rather than compromise the preparation, we elected to switch our entry to Darley Moor and focus on the Honda CB350.

鈥淒arley Moor is a circuit I have very limited experience of, having only raced there once previously in 1993. With minimal recent track time, the weekend became one of steadily building confidence and improving pace.

鈥淎 special thank-you goes to Grahame Collinge for his invaluable support throughout the meeting, and to Andy Read for both his assistance in the paddock and the opportunity to race the Honda.

鈥淎s is often the case with classic machinery, reliability became part of the story. In Race 1, while running in a strong third place, a spark plug worked loose, causing the engine to run lean and ultimately melting the plug. Although disappointing, it was encouraging to know we were already running at the front of the field while still learning the circuit.

鈥淲ith replacement spark plugs sourced by Andy, Grahame and I completed a trackside thread repair to get the bike back into action. It was far from an ideal paddock repair, but it enabled us to continue the meeting and gather valuable championship points.”

鈥淭he remainder of the weekend showed consistent progress:

鈥淩ace 2: 3rd in class, 5th overall, while improving lap times by approximately two seconds.

鈥淩ace 3: Another 3rd in class, closing significantly on the race leaders and finding a further two-second improvement.

鈥淩ace 4: Our pace earned a front-row start in P3. A close four-bike battle for the lead developed between two 350s and two 500s, producing some excellent racing. We finished 2nd in class and 3rd overall, crossing the line just 1.5 seconds behind the winner.

鈥淭o improve by around four seconds over the course of the weekend, despite limited circuit experience and overcoming mechanical issues, was an encouraging result and demonstrates both the potential of the Honda and the continued progress of the team.

鈥淥ur focus now turns to preparations for the Classic TT, where I will be making my debut while competing on both the A Read Associates Ltd. Honda CB350 and the OC Graphics Kawasaki ZX400.

鈥淔inally, thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters. Your backing allows us to continue competing, developing the bikes, and representing your businesses at race meetings throughout the season. Your support is genuinely appreciated, and we look forward to updating you again after the Classic TT.鈥�

Photo credit: John Hale.

鈥淲hat a week of racing at the Southern 100 on the Isle of Man!

鈥淭he weather was kind to us for most of the event, but as anyone involved in road racing knows, there’s always something that tests you along the way.

鈥淭his year I competed in two middleweight classes, the SuperTwin and the Supersport, giving me plenty of track time and valuable opportunities to build confidence and improve my pace around the Billown Course.

鈥淢onday evening’s practice went exactly to plan. I completed two sessions on the Supersport and one on the SuperTwin, improving my lap times every time I went out and getting both bikes working well.”

鈥淭uesday evening proved to be much more challenging. The plan was to complete two SuperTwin sessions before finishing with the Supersport, but after just two strong laps on the SuperTwin I was unfortunately taken out by another rider at Balabeg.

鈥淎 huge thank you to all the marshals, medics and spectators who looked after me. From making sure I was fit to continue, arranging transport back to the paddock, and even providing cold drinks and phones so I could let the team know I was okay, the support was incredible. Moments like this really highlight what makes the road racing community so special.

鈥淭he incident created a race against the clock. The SuperTwin required significant repairs, there wasn’t enough time to prepare for the final practice session, and I had to sit that one out. Thankfully, Monday’s pace had been enough to secure qualification, putting me 22nd on the SuperTwin grid and 21st for the Supersport B Race.

鈥淎fter a late night in the paddock, the team worked tirelessly to rebuild the SuperTwin and have it race-ready for Wednesday evening.

鈥淪tarting from around two-thirds down the grid made clean getaways difficult in the mass starts, but both races were encouraging. I finished 20th in the SuperTwin race and 17th in the Supersport race, while finding around four seconds per lap compared with my qualifying pace on both machines.

鈥淭hursday brought the main race day, beginning with the Supersport B Race before the SuperTwin feature later in the afternoon.”

鈥淚n the Supersport race I maintained my position throughout much of the race, improved my lap times again, and crossed the finish line in 20th after another strong performance.

鈥淟ater, on the SuperTwin, I made what felt like my best start of the week, gaining several places in the opening laps while continuing to reduce my lap times. It felt like my strongest ride of the meeting, so I was a little surprised to finish 21st, but the overall progress made throughout the week was hugely encouraging. Every outing brought faster lap times, giving us a solid platform to build on for next year’s event.

鈥淎 massive thank you goes to everyone who helped make the week possible. Grahame Collinge, who worked tirelessly to keep both bikes fuelled, prepared, through scrutineering and on the grid every session. Andy Fenton, for your endless support and invaluable local knowledge throughout the week. And my teammate Ben Long, for all your help and encouragement both on and off the track.

鈥淚’d also like to say a huge thank you to 91传媒 for providing the confidence and outstanding stopping power needed to push hard around the Billown Course, and to Aztec Oils for supplying products that kept both bikes running reliably throughout a demanding week of racing. Having dependable equipment makes a huge difference at events like this, and I’m incredibly grateful for their continued support.

鈥淩oad racing is never straightforward, but after overcoming Tuesday’s setback, rebuilding the bike and continuing to improve every time I headed out, I’ll take plenty of positives away from this year’s Southern 100.鈥�

Photo Credit: Tracey鈥檚 Pictures

Barry Sheene Classic 鈥� Oliver鈥檚 Mount

鈥淭he Barry Sheene Classic at Oliver鈥檚 Mount provided another fantastic opportunity to race both the A Read Associates Ltd Honda CB350K4 and my own Brook Built Racing SuperTwin. Joining me for the weekend was Ben Long, competing aboard the Brook Built Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.

鈥淲e were treated to fantastic weather throughout the entire event, which is a rarity at Oliver鈥檚 Mount and made for excellent racing conditions all weekend.

鈥淧ractice began positively, with three laps completed on each bike to get settled into the demanding road circuit. Qualifying followed, with strong results across the board. The Brook Built Racing SuperTwin was qualified in 10^th position, while the Honda CB350K4 secured second in class and was the leading 350cc machine on the grid. Ben also qualified successfully for the main 600 Supersport race on the Yamaha R6.鈥�

Road Racing New Classic Solo 鈥� Honda CB350K4

鈥淩ace 1 saw me make a good start and settle into second place early on. Maintaining a consistent pace throughout, I held the position all the way to the chequered flag.

鈥淩ace 2 was another strong outing. After another good start, I maintained solid pace throughout the race and was rewarded with the class victory.

鈥淩ace 3 proved to be another textbook race. A strong performance resulted in a second-place finish, which was enough to secure the overall New Classic Solo class victory for the weekend.鈥�

Pub & Kitchen Twins 鈥� Brook Built Racing SuperTwin

鈥淩ace 1 got underway with a good start, and after a competitive race I brought the bike home in 8^th position.

鈥淚n Race 2, the start wasn鈥檛 quite as strong, but I settled into a solid rhythm and worked my way to an 11^th-place finish.

鈥淩ace 3 was unfortunately less straightforward. I was boxed in approaching the first corner and lost several positions. The race was subsequently red-flagged, but while making my way back to the grid the bike cut out, preventing me from taking the restart and resulting in a non-start for the final race.鈥�

HM Civils Supersport 鈥� Yamaha YZF-R6

鈥淢y teammate, Ben Long, enjoyed a successful weekend aboard the Brook Built Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Competing in the highly competitive HM Civils Supersport class, Ben continued to improve throughout the event, beating his previous best lap times around Oliver鈥檚 Mount. His efforts were rewarded with consistent finishes of 18^th, 21^st, and 19^th in the three Supersport races, marking another positive step forward in his road racing development.鈥�

Thanks

鈥淏oth bikes performed faultlessly throughout the weekend, running and stopping perfectly with Aztec Oils Endurance 10W/50 engine oil and 91传媒 GPFAX brake pads.

鈥淎 massive thank you goes to all of our sponsors and supporters who continue to make our racing possible. Your backing is greatly appreciated and plays a huge part in every result achieved on track.

鈥淲e now look forward to the next event and building on a successful weekend at The Southern 100.鈥�

Pics: Adam Garrett/Mark Huckerby

“This past weekend I joined 饾悘饾惈饾惃饾惍饾悵饾悷饾惃饾惃饾惌 饾悜饾悮饾悳饾悽饾惂饾悹 for Round 2 of the 饾悕饾惃 饾悑饾悽饾惁饾悽饾惌饾惉 饾悜饾悮饾悳饾悽饾惂饾悹 饾煏饾煋饾煄饾悿饾惁 饾悇饾惂饾悵饾惍饾惈饾悮饾惂饾悳饾悶 饾悅饾悺饾悮饾惁饾惄饾悽饾惃饾惂饾惉饾悺饾悽饾惄 饾悮饾惌 饾悆饾惃饾惂饾悽饾惂饾悹饾惌饾惃饾惂 饾悘饾悮饾惈饾悿 饾悊饾悘 饾悳i饾惈饾悳饾惍饾悽饾惌, teaming up with 饾悏饾惃饾惉饾悺 饾惄饾惈饾惃饾惍饾悵饾悷饾惃饾惃饾惌 and 饾悏饾惃饾悶 饾悇饾惀饾惀饾悽饾惉. At around five and a half hours long (or until the first bike completes 750km), it was a perfect opportunity to build race fitness, find some rhythm again, and get solid seat time. Huge thanks to the team for the invite and the trust they showed me鈥攅specially with 饾悏饾惃饾惉饾悺 饾悘饾惈饾惃饾惍饾悵饾悷饾惃饾惃饾惌鈥欚潗� 饾悳饾惈饾悶饾惏 饾惀饾悶饾悮饾悵饾悽饾惂饾悹 饾惌饾悺饾悶 饾悕饾悮饾惌饾悽饾惃饾惂饾悮饾惀 饾煍饾煄饾煄 饾悳饾惀饾悮饾惉饾惉 heading into the round.

“The conditions couldn鈥檛 have been better, with sunshine throughout the weekend. Qualifying went smoothly, landing us 饾煋饾惌饾悺 饾悽饾惂 饾悳饾惀饾悮饾惉饾惉 饾悮饾惂饾悵 饾煆饾煍饾惌饾悺 饾惃饾惎饾悶饾惈饾悮饾惀饾惀.

“The race itself had its challenges. A few red flags and safety car periods played against us, costing time as the field bunched up鈥攂ut that鈥檚 endurance racing. Josh took the start, I handled the middle stints, and Joe closed out the race. Both Josh and Joe set an impressive pace, and I managed a couple of strong 40-minute sessions to support our charge. Thankfully, apart from the stoppages (and we hope everyone involved is okay), the event ran clean for us.

“After hours of consistent teamwork and focus, we crossed the line 饾煈饾惈饾悵 饾悽饾惂 饾惌饾悺饾悶 饾悕饾悮饾惌饾悽饾惃饾惂饾悮饾惀 饾煍饾煄饾煄 饾悳饾惀饾悮饾惉饾惉 饾悮饾惂饾悵 饾煆饾煄饾惌饾悺 饾惃饾惎饾悶饾惈饾悮饾惀饾惀鈥攁 result the whole crew can be proud of. Endurance racing relies as much on those behind the wall as the riders themselves, so a massive thanks goes to Phil Proudfoot, Andy Read, and Nick Ellis for their sharp strategy, pit coordination, and relentless effort throughout the day.

“It鈥檚 been fantastic to race again alongside Josh and Joe, who have both progressed brilliantly into the BSB Sportbike Championship since we last shared a grid. Wishing them and the team the best of luck for Oulton Park BSB this coming weekend.

“Next up for me is Andy Read鈥檚 Honda K4 at Cadwell Park in May, followed by the Pre-TT Classic on the Billown Course.

“Finally, a huge thank-you to all our sponsors and supporters鈥攜our backing makes weekends like this possible.”

鈥淚t was the final round of the year for Brook Built Racing at the 33rd and final running of the Gold Cup that鈥檚 run since 1989.

鈥淚t was a team effort, with Russell covering SuperSport and SuperTwin+, and Ben Long on SuperSport.

鈥淲et weather kicked off Saturday鈥檚 qualifying at the legendary Oliver鈥檚 Mount. Grip was there, but confidence took time to build. I qualified for all races 鈥� albeit toward the back 鈥� but Ben Long found his rhythm early, securing P10 in SuperSport B. I ended with a top 10, while Ben got his first win at Olivers Mount. Not bad for the tight and twisty circuit!鈥�

S饾悮饾惌饾惍饾惈饾悵饾悮饾惒 饾悋饾悽饾悹饾悺饾惀饾悽饾悹饾悺饾惌饾惉

• Free practice on the Aprilia RS660 & Yamaha YZF-R6.
• Wet qualifying: P22 (SuperTwin), P21 (SuperSport Group 2).
• Race 1 (SuperTwin): Red flags galore! Restarted multiple times before finally finishing P15.
• Race 2 (SuperSport B): I came home P17, Ben stormed to P4 from P10.
• Race 3 (SuperTwin restart): P15 again, setting me up for a better grid on Sunday.

饾悞饾惍饾惂饾悵饾悮饾惒 饾悋饾悽饾悹饾悺饾惀饾悽饾悹饾悺饾惌饾惉

• Race 4 (SuperTwin): Wet again, but I found my groove 鈥� P14.
• Race 5 (SuperSport B): Gained confidence, climbed to P13. Ben led most of the race, just missed the win 鈥� P2.
• Race 6 (SuperSport B): I sat this one out to preserve the R6. Ben took full advantage 鈥� hole shot to victory his first win at Oliver鈥檚 Mount!
• Race 7 (SuperTwin): Best start of the weekend, smooth ride to P9.

饾悓饾悽饾惂饾悽饾惁饾悮饾惀 饾悳饾惈饾悶饾惏, 饾惁饾悮饾惐饾悽饾惁饾惍饾惁 饾悶饾悷饾悷饾惃饾惈饾惌

鈥淗uge thanks to Gary 鈥楯ake鈥� Dicken & Andy Fenton for keeping us fuelled and focused. With limited resources, Brook Built Racing wrapped up the season proud and strong.

鈥淭he Steve Henshaw Gold Cup gave us everything 鈥� wet, dry, red flags, drama, and that unforgettable win for Ben. A fitting way to close the season for Brook Built Racing. We are planning to add a different (new to us) class next year (more later) Roll on 2026!鈥�

Practice & Qualifying Week

• Sunday: In favourable conditions, the team completed two laps with a best speed of 114.7mph, a solid start to the week.
• Monday: A red flag incident at Black Dub cut the session short, with Ady stopping safely at Ballaugh.
• Tuesday Evening: Cooler conditions and a delayed start saw riders released in pairs. A strong 116.3mph lap was recorded, with testing focused on shock modifications, including stiffer springs and extended setup.
• Wednesday: No MGP session, but two laps were completed on the Classic SBK Kawasaki ZXR7, averaging 114mph, confirming fuel capacity reliability.
• Thursday & Friday: Further testing and refinements, with laps focused on suspension changes, oil management, and grips.

Race Weekend 鈥� MGP SuperSport & MGP Senior

• Saturday (SuperSport): Despite a pit stop delay due to fuel spillage, the team gained valuable experience in high-pressure conditions, finishing 11th overall with a near-118mph lap.
• Monday (Senior): Starting 4th on the road, Ady moved up to 3rd and maintained strong pace through the opening laps. After a clean 50-second pit stop, the team secured a competitive 7th place finish.
• Unfortunately, both the Classic Superbike and Classic Senior races were cancelled due to weather.

Team Reflections

The 2025 campaign showcased both the performance potential of Brook Built Racing machinery and the resilience of the team. Consistent lap speeds over 114鈥�118mph, combined with successful adjustments to suspension and fuelling strategies, demonstrated clear progress throughout the week.

Team Principal Russell Brook said: 鈥淲e are proud of the effort from everyone involved in Brook Built Racing at this year鈥檚 MGP and Classic TT. The results reflect our determination, and the lessons learned will help us take another step forward next season.鈥�

Images: Tracy鈥檚 Pictures

饾悜饾悮饾悳饾悶 饾悜饾悶饾惄饾惃饾惈饾惌: 饾悂饾悮饾惈饾惈饾惒 饾悞饾悺饾悶饾悶饾惂饾悶 饾悅饾惀饾悮饾惉饾惉饾悽饾悳 鈥� 饾悞饾悳饾悮饾惈饾悰饾惃饾惈饾惃饾惍饾悹饾悺

鈥淭he legendary Oliver鈥檚 Mount circuit once again played host to the Barry Sheene Classic, and this year鈥檚 event offered its usual blend of unpredictability, grit, and glory.鈥�

饾悞饾悮饾惌饾惍饾惈饾悵饾悮饾惒

鈥淭he weekend opened with a wet, untimed three-lap practice session. With slick conditions and little to gain by pushing hard, it was a chance to test grip and settle into the rhythm of the track.

鈥淏y qualifying time, the rain remained but confidence was on the rise. Despite the moisture, a solid performance secured a 13th-place start.

鈥淭eammate Ben Long took to the support race aboard his Yamaha R6 and delivered a commanding performance, holding 2nd place throughout to land another podium at Oliver鈥檚 Mount. Despite poor visibility, Ben鈥檚 consistency paid off. He noted the fog affected how hard he could push, but his pace was impressive nonetheless.

鈥淣ature had the final say as dense fog rolled in, forcing all racing to be halted for the rest of the day.鈥�

饾悞饾惍饾惂饾悵饾悮饾惒

鈥淪unday welcomed clearer skies and fading rain. By the time the first SuperTwins race began, the circuit was largely dry, though lingering damp patches at the hairpins kept everyone alert. Choosing full dry-condition tyres proved mostly effective, and an excellent launch placed the rider in 10th for much of the race. However, with confidence still tentative over the slick sections, two positions slipped away in the final laps, resulting in a 12th-place finish.

鈥淭he second race offered much the same 鈥� a partially dry track and strategic decisions to be made. A less favourable grid position on the inside led to a congested start. Nonetheless, a strong race followed, ending with a respectable 14th-place finish.鈥�

饾悓饾惃饾惂饾悵饾悮饾惒 饾悇饾惎饾悶饾惂饾悽饾惂饾悹

鈥淭hings kicked off smoothly as planned. The goal was to re-familiarise myself with the course before pushing for a qualifying lap in the second session. Unfortunately, due to an incident in another class, that second timed session was cancelled.鈥�

饾悡饾惍饾悶饾惉饾悵饾悮饾惒 饾悇饾惎饾悶饾惂饾悽饾惂饾悹

鈥淲e opened with a timed session, but qualifying ultimately stood based on Monday鈥檚 first outing. I had qualified, though not quite where I hoped to be. The Mike Kerruish Plumbing Lightweight Race got underway, but a sudden downpour after lap one put an early end to racing for the night.鈥�

饾悥饾悶饾悵饾惂饾悶饾惉饾悵饾悮饾惒 饾悇饾惎饾悶饾惂饾悽饾惂饾悹

鈥淩acing resumed with a full restart of Tuesday鈥檚 race, using Monday鈥檚 times to set the grid. I didn鈥檛 have the strongest slot but managed a solid start and enjoyed being back on the legendary 4.25-mile Billown circuit. I finished a respectable 20th in the main race.鈥�

饾悡饾悺饾惍饾惈饾惉饾悵饾悮饾惒 鈥� 饾悜饾悮饾悳饾悶 饾悆饾悮饾惒

鈥淭he rhythm changed with racing held throughout the day. Having made the main race, I was also selected for the consolation race, which turned out to be a competitive scrap among notable riders. I launched brilliantly from the third row, securing second at Ballakeighan, holding it until Cross Four-Ways where I dropped to third. Racing in a tight pack on closed roads demands sharp instincts听鈥� balancing attack and defence while predicting others鈥� moves. The Brook Built Aprilia RS660 proved highly competitive. After easing off on defence, I found myself down in fifth, but I knew I could claw back. I made it to fourth going into the final lap and, after another rider’s misstep at Ballakeighan, grabbed third and held it to the chequered flag. That podium finish was a vital lift for the week.

鈥淭he second Bushy’s Brewery Lightweight Race started as well as could be from the grid position I had. I quickly made up a few positions and enjoyed racing around the Billown circuit; it was a solid ride, to come home in 17th place.鈥�

饾悁饾惉饾悽饾悵饾悶 饾悷饾惈饾惃饾惁 饾惈饾悽饾悵饾悽饾惂饾悹

鈥淚鈥檓 also finding my place as team principal for Brook Built Racing. At the Southern 100, Adrian Harrison piloted the Brook Built Yamaha R6, qualifying for the main SuperSport race and finishing 24th and 21st in his respective outings.鈥�

Pic credits: Tracys Pictures/David Glossop