Australia’s British Superbike Championship contender Josh Brookes will return to the Superbike World Championship in a wild card ride for the HM Plant Honda team at Silverstone at the end of next month, using this weekend’s Superstock 1000 support races at the British Grand Prix as pre-race practice at Silvertone.

This weekend’s MotoGP round will see Brookes compete in the British Superstock Championship’s two support races as a stand-in for injured teammate Steve Plater, taking advantage of the round as the official BSB Superbike category will be absent for the weekend.

“It has been a long few weeks since the last round of BSB at Cadwell Park and I have really missed being out on the track, so this weekend can’t come soon enough for me,” explained the 27-year-old.

“I have been keeping myself sharp with motocross and then had a trip to the TT to support the boys, but there is nothing like being out on the track, so now I am feeling really up for it.

“It is obviously a shame for Steve as he had such a good start to the season, but I know how good the Honda CBR1000RR is so there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to fight for the wins this weekend. I’m really fired up for taking part in the World Superbike event as well and it will be great to also have Kiyo [teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari] racing there too so we’re a full team.”

The gutsy Aussie rider comes to this race hot off the back of an impressive first British championship win at Cadwell Park, which moved him into second place in the hotly-contested BSB championship and he is now aiming to make history as the British Superstock championship races for the first time on the all-new Silvertsone Arena circuit.

The World Superbike round will be held on 30 July-1 August, Brookes making his second appearance of the season after a frustrating debut at Phillip Island’s season opener in place of injured countryman Broc Parkes on the Echo CRS Honda team.