Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/612546
IN THE WIND P36 JOSH BROOKES TO WORLD SUPERBIKE R eigning British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes will jump to the World Superbike stage next year with Shaun Muir Racing, the same outfit that took him to the BSB title this year. However, the team will not run Yamahas as ex- pected after losing out on the factory contract to Cresent, and will instead switch to BMW S 1000 RR machinery in Milwaukee Tools livery with BMW Motorrad assistance. Joining Brookes in the team will be MotoGP refugee, Karel Abraham. Brookes made little secret of his desire to return to the World Superbike paddock for 2016 after finally sealing the BSB crown this year, and will get his third shot at a full World Superbike sea- son in what will be his best chance yet of taking the world title. Brookes had earlier competed in World Superbike in 2006 and 2007, switching to Stiggy Motorsport in World Supersport in 2008 and the British Superbike Championship in 2009. Brookes also raced the Isle of Man TT in 2013 and 2014, taking a best finish of seventh in the 2014 Superbike TT. Abraham will leave the MotoGP paddock where he has been a feature of for the last 10 years for his new WSBK venture. The Czech rider has com- peted in 125cc, 250cc, Moto2 (where he won the 2010 Valencia Grand Prix), and finally MotoGP. His Cardoin AB team has withdrawn from the Mo- toGP paddock. CN MOTOAMERICA WILL RETURN TO UTAH The MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series will return to Utah in 2016 for the Utah MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the newly named Utah Motorsports Campus (formerly Miller Motorsports Park). The race will be round seven of the nine-round MotoAmerica series. The Utah MotoAmerica Superbike Champion- ship will begin on Thursday, June 23, and will con- clude on Saturday, June 25, with the two featured MotoAmerica Superbike races. Friday and Satur- day will also feature the two MotoAmerica Supers- port, Superstock 600 and KTM RC Cup classes. Superstock 1000, meanwhile, will continue to race within the Superbike class with both those races scheduled for Saturday. "The circuit itself is one of the premier ven- ues in the United States and the plans currently underway look to enhance that further," said MotoAmerica partner Chuck Aksland. "The nature of the track can produce some great racing and it's a favorite track among the riders and teams. It's a real challenge with the variety of corners and high speeds obtained down the straight. We think racing on Saturday will be a good change and we plan on giving race fans three solid days of quality on-track action." "We are delighted that Utah Motorsports Campus will be part of the 2016 MotoAmerica championship," said Alan Wilson, president of Utah Motorsport Campus. "Our track has histori- cally been very popular among motorcycle racers, providing many memorably competitive events. We look forward to more of the same in 2016." CN Josh Brookes (right) and team owner Shaun Muir will be World Superbike bound in 2016 on BMW equipment.