Milwaukee BMW boss Shaun Muir says he ‘feels sad’ for current rider Josh Brookes - who isn’t in his plans for the 2017 Aprilia team - as they haven’t been able to give the reigning British Superbike Champion a package to perform in World Superbikes.

Brookes came into the championship with Muir’s team after taking the domestic title in 2015 but the team hasn’t been able to engineer a setup for the S1000RR on which the Australian has been able to challenge for podiums and he now faces a return to BSB in 2017.

“I feel sad for Josh because we’ve not been able to get the best out of him with this package. He has proven he’s got the pace to race at the front – he’s shown that on a domestic level and also at Suzuka – but I just don’t think our package this year has suited him,” said Muir.

“For us it’s a real shame; we’re ending a three-year relationship during which we’ve won a domestic title together, but haven’t got to where we wanted to be in the World Championship. We’ve got to close that chapter, wish him well and go off in our own directions, shaking hands and considering each other as friends.”