WET weather did Bradford rider David Brook no favours when he resumed Thundersport GP action after being out for three months with a broken pelvis.

The Clayton Heights resident had his spill at Donington Park in late March and worked hard to get himself fit for the Oulton Park round at the beginning of July.

Yet rain just before the start of qualifying compromised his meeting as his spare wet bike was under repair. Brook had to put wet settings and fit wet tyres on his other bike – and confessed to being livid at his 18th place.

"I'd busted a gut to get back fit as quickly as possible, and at least on the bike I was fine, so to be held back by the weather was a pain," he said.

"I genuinely considered canning the meeting as I didn't think I could do anything from 18th on the grid.

"After much deliberation, I dug in and decided to grit it out. I also found a fault with the front end of the bike from my crash, which left me with no choice but to drive back home to Bradford to repair it.

"I eventually got to sleep at 1.30am. It was worth it though – the front end was much more planted in morning warm-up the day after."

However, torrential rain before race one meant that Brook had no option but to sit that one out.

"In race two, I was adamant I could get a top-ten result from 18th with the improved feel," he said.

"I sharpened my elbows and pulled nine positions back on lap one to finish ninth. Every time I rode the bike, I found more confidence in myself and, all things considered, I was happy where I finished.

"I've got a test booked before the next round to try and play catch-up and hope to be nearer the front come Rockingham (July 29-31).

"Sometimes you've just got to forget about positions and take stock. I'm racing, I'm bike fit and I'm back to work having made a full recovery after an accident which could have ended my career. I'll live with that for now."

Brook added: "But Oulton Park really tested my mental strength. To come back to such a competitive championship having missed three rounds was difficult in itself, which wasn't helped by inclement weather throughout the weekend.

"The first few sessions went okay. With Oulton being such a fast circuit, it was unusual getting my brain back into the swing of going so fast on such a tight and technical circuit.

"I could tell I was detuned from the crash through the fast corners but that was to be expected.

"In the second session, I changed my rear-tyre compound, which helped the bike drive off the slower corners, and made a change to the brake pad compound to improve feel on full-braking force.

"I also changed gearing as the settings from last year were redundant due to the new Dunlops I now run. They are a different shape and rolling radius, which throws everything out slightly.

"I felt better at the end of session three but I still needed to sharpen up big time."