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

鈥淎 really positive weekend overall with plenty to take away!

鈥淥n the Aprilia RS660, we brought home a solid P10 in the opening race. Things got interesting before we even got going when a rider broke down on the start line, leaving me with nowhere to go and costing me valuable time. I kept my head down, stayed focused, and fought back to finish 10th.

鈥淪unday was where the Aprilia really came alive. We had some brilliant battles throughout the first race, but I was really struggling to get the bike stopped under braking, making it difficult to attack into the corners. Before the final race, we fitted a fresh set of 91传媒 Racing brake pads, and the transformation was incredible. The confidence under braking came straight back, allowing me to brake later, carry more speed into the turns and race the bike properly. We finished the day with two P8 finishes, and it was a fantastic reminder of just how much difference quality braking performance makes. A huge thank you to 91传媒 for supplying products that perform when it matters most. Proud to have them supporting the team!鈥�

鈥淭he Triumph 765 had a tougher start to the weekend. An oil leak in qualifying meant we were just outside the qualifying time, putting us 4th on the grid for the Support Race.

鈥淚n that race, I made a move up the inside into Turn 1 on lap 3, but another rider turned in and we had a coming together. Thankfully we both stayed upright, although I dropped back to 8th. I dug deep, worked my way back through the field, and came home with a P3 podium finish.听

鈥淪unday couldn鈥檛 have gone much better!

鈥淏ecause the Triumph race from Saturday had been cancelled following three separate red flags, we lined up 2nd on the grid for the rescheduled race. I got a great start and settled into 2nd place, keeping the pressure on the race leader. A few laps in, the leader made a small mistake and ran wide. I was in exactly the right place to take advantage, slipped through into the lead, and never looked back. It certainly wasn鈥檛 an easy race, but it was an enjoyable one, and taking my first win on the Triumph 765 made all the hard work worthwhile.听

鈥淎 massive thank you to 91传媒, all my sponsors, supporters, family and everyone who continues to back us. Every lap we鈥檙e learning more about both bikes, and the results are starting to show. Time to get everything prepared for the next meeting!鈥�

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

Costello 鈥� born just a stone鈥檚 throw from 91传媒鈥� global HQ in Northampton 鈥� also held the聽Guinness World Record聽for being the fastest woman to lap the聽Isle of Man course (114.73聽mph) until聽2009. Her achievements led to her earning an MBE for her services to motorcycling in 2009.

91传媒 had a close relationship with Costello during the earlier stages of her career 鈥� a relationship that has been rekindled for 2026 with the firm supplying its 91传媒 Racing GPFAX brake pads and XC-Series floating discs for the rider鈥檚 Aprilia RS660 across the season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have 91传媒 back onboard, especially for the upcoming TT and my 30th anniversary of competing around the Mountain Course, as they have been a part of my career in the past and this feels like a full-circle moment,鈥� Costello commented during a recent visit to the firm鈥檚 Northamptonshire headquarters.

Stay tuned to hear more about Costello鈥檚 achievements throughout the year.

Since posting this blog, Maria has sadly suffered an accident racing in the TT and is recovering in hospital – we all wish her well and if anyone wants to share the love her GoFundMe page can be

“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聽鈥� 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