DORSET rider Josh Brookes admits the next round of ViSK British Superbike action can’t come soon enough after his controversial collision with Sylvain Guintoli at Donington Park last Monday.

The 26-year-old Aussie collided with the Frenchman at the Melbourne hairpin ahead of the first race, leaving Guintoli with a broken leg and Brookes facing a one race ban, which has been suspended for three races.

The dramatic incident in the East Midlands visibly shook Brookes and despite returning to the track for race two, bike problems meant he was forced to withdraw after just seven laps, completing a miserable afternoon for the former Australian Superbike champion.

And despite the eyes of the Superbike world watching Brookes at Thruxton this weekend for round four of the season, and the pressure mounting from employers HM Plant Honda, he insists he has to get back on the bike – and quick – if he is to banish his Donington demons.

“I don’t want the things that happened at Donington to ever happen and it would have hung over me if there was a two-week break,” said Brookes, who has just six championship points to his name having missed the opening round at Brands Hatch with visa problems.

“That would have made it worse but we will get to Thruxton and maybe change the pattern of things a little bit and try to get some decent results and show people why I am employed by the HM Plant Honda team.”

  • Meanwhile, Wimborne-based Leon Camier can’t wait for the action to get underway at the track he describes as his home away from home.

The 22-year-old is a regular at the Hampshire circuit and having already opened up a 28-point lead over Airwaves Yamaha team mate James Ellison at the top of the championship he is confident of extending it.

Camier, who won the opening race at Donington only for bike problems in race two to prevent a second double of the season, said: “I spend half my time living nearby in Wimborne so Thruxton is like a home race for me.

“I’ve always really enjoyed riding the circuit and I think the bike should be well suited to it.”

  • British Eurosport 2 has live coverage from every round of the 2009 British Superbike Championship. See the action on Sky channel 411 or Virgin Media channel 525. Next race Thruxton tomorrow, and for updates head to uk.eurosport.yahoo.com