I believe I can win – Brookes

The man from Bringelly in New South Wales has an all action style that appears made for the bumps and jumps of between the hedges action so he will be far from fazed by the challenge of slipstreaming and banging elbows at such speeds on closed public roads.

“I absolutely believe that I can win there,” said Brookes confidently.

There can be no doubting the 2012 BSB runner-up’s talent- or belief in his own ability- but can he really be seriously contemplating winning on his first ever racing venture between walls and lampposts, over manhole covers and white lines?

“I won’t be disappointed if I don’t but I believe the potential is there to win if I can get enough practice and the right preparation,” he said.

“I will take it in stages- see how the first day of practice goes, see where I am on the first lap of the race.”

Brookes is keen to become a regular at the North West and dismissed suggestions his entry at the event might be a one-off.

“I hope it’s not a one-off,” he said.

“I’ve been racing short circuits all my life and this will be the first road race I’ve done, so if it suits me and I enjoy the atmosphere and emotion then I’d like to think I could come back and do it year after year.

“A lot of people ask the question if I think racing the roads will affect me in BSB, but I don’t see how it will.

“I have the capability of adapting to each and I wouldn’t think that one is going to upset the other.”