This weekend (19-21 May) the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team will be back in British Superbike action, as Round 3 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park.
Having started the season in fine form, Faye Ho’s BMW supported team has already celebrated two race wins and two podium-place finishes with Josh Brookes aboard the BMW M 1000 RR Superbike.
Arriving at Donington’s longer GP layout second in the overall standings, just four points shy of the leader, Josh and the team will be looking towards the podium across the weekend’s three races in a bid to close the points gap.
Meanwhile teammate Peter Hickman will be looking to turn his luck around at the 2.49-mile circuit after what has been a mixed start to the season. Historically Donington has been a good circuit for Hicky, who has previously held a BSB lap record there, and last season finished on the podium in third place.
This weekend also sees the return of the FHO Girls, who will be back in action for the second round of the HEL Performance Junior Supersport with Motocourse Championship, where Denise dal Zotto, Jamie Hanks-Elliott, Holly Harris and Scarlett Robinson will all be looking to build on their Round 1 results. Also in action this weekend, as the duo prepares for the Isle of Man TT Races are Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley in the Molson Group British Sidecar Championship.
Track action gets underway on Friday (19 May) with Superbike first free practice at 13.00. Superpole returns on Saturday (20 May), followed by the 12-lap Bike Social Sprint Race, with two further races on Sunday (21 May). Click here to view the full weekend schedule.
Josh Brookes:
“The energy is positive as we head to Donington Park this weekend. We had a test there before the start of the season, which although was predominantly wet, it did show key indications that we would have good pace. Obviously, we had the two opening rounds where we showed we have the speed and the potential to run at the front, not only for wins but also podiums, and I think the strong form we started the season with can continue into the weekend. We did slightly underperform at Oulton Park, as we went the wrong way with set-up, but we’re not focussing too much on that as we know the potential to have good results is there.”
Peter Hickman:
“I’m feeling good about this weekend and I’m looking forward to getting to Donington Park, it’s somewhere I’ve held the BSB lap record before and last year we were on the podium at the end of the season. I just really need to put a whole weekend together properly, we’ve had the pace at the first two rounds, but the results just haven’t come and this weekend needs to be the turning point for me.”
Faye Ho – Team Principal:
“We’re coming into this weekend off the back of two strong rounds with Silverstone and Oulton Park, where both riders had the pace and Josh claimed two wins and two podium finishes. It’s been the best start to a season for my team and we need to keep this momentum going. It’s still very early days, but we’re second in the championship standings, just four points behind Glenn, so anything is possible, and I believe with my riders and team we can be very successful. I’m looking forward to getting to Donington and seeing what the guys can do. We also have the FHO Girls back this round, as well as Pete and Jevan so it’s going to be a busy weekend for FHO Racing!”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 91
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 87
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 87
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 76
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Yamaha Racing) 73
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 44
- Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 41
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 40
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 37
- Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 32