Josh Brookes will get his racing fix before the start of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Easter after he received a last minute call up to race this weekend in the Island Classic historical meeting at Phillip Island.

Brookes, who returns with the Tyco Suzuki team this season in BSB, is set to deputise for Cameron Donald, who battled intensely with Jeremy McWilliams last year. The event sees teams from Australia, the UK and a 'World 13' go head-to-head for the International Challenge. Brookes will be looking to uphold Australian honour as the team have taken wins in the past four consecutive years to establish an unbeaten record. Brookes will get his first opportunity to ride the Suzuki XR69 F1 on Thursday ahead of the weekend.

Brookes said: "It was a last minute call up to do the race this weekend and it was a great opportunity. I head down to Phillip Island tomorrow and then I get the first ride on the bike on Thursday. I am really looking forward to it as I am definitely having withdrawal symptoms from not riding now so it will be a fix before the start of the BSB season!"