Josh Brookes didn’t ride in today’s Suzuka Eight-Hours Superpole session - allowing Yoshimura Suzuki team-mate Noriyku Haga to put in a lap for the crowd - but said the team had made a big step forward with the ageing GSX-R1000 overnight.

Takuya Tsuda grabbed second place for the team in qualifying with Brookes saying their adjustments were right on the mark as the Japanese rider was able to drop into the low 2’06s, one of only three teams under the 2’07s barrier.

“The last couple of days have been a lot of work as the bike wasn’t working just how the team expected. The Yoshimura team is usually right at the top and we had a few problems trying to find the right setting. It was improving step by step by step but only small amounts,” said Brookes, speaking at the track.

“Last night, we put together a really good setting. I felt a big step forward and today in the lap time it proved it was the same for the other riders as well. It’s a shame I didn’t ride today but I had confidence Tsuda-san would do the job and it was a pleasure to watch Nori ride in front of the crowd as he is so famous. I think half the crowd have come to watch him.”