Josh Brookes and Karel Abraham to WSBK
Rennie Scaysbrook | December 3, 2015
Reigning 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 expected 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 WSBK season in what will be his best chance yet of taking the world title. Brookes had earlier competed in WSBK 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 he has been a feature of for the last 10 years for his new WSBK venture. The Czech rider has competed in 125cc, 250cc, Moto2 (where he won the 2010 Valencia Grand Prix), and finally MotoGP. His Cardoin AB team has withdrawn from the MotoGP paddock.
