Aussie Josh Brookes believes his decision to switch to Suzuki for 2011 was the right one.

Australia’s leading British Superbike Championship star Josh Brookes says that he was in need for a change for 2011, admitting that he was “ready to move on” in an interview with MotoOnline.com.au today.

After finishing second in this year’s BSB title for HM Plant Honda behind teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari, Brookes will make a surprise switch to Relentless Suzuki by TAS for 2011 and he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“To be honest I think it was just time for me to step away from Honda, just to make a change anyway,” 27-year-old Brookes told MotoOnline in this week’s Mid Week interview.

“Even if Honda had given me a great deal, I think it was just time to change anyway – they say that a change is as good as a holiday or something like that! There are a lot of good reasons to keep it interesting.

“Suzuki gave me the best deal in the end, but I was ready to move on anyway.”

Ironically, next season marks 10 years since Brookes won the 2001 Australian Supersport Championship aboard a privateer GSX-R, a factor that he hopes will put luck on his side for next year.

“My first four-stroke championship was the Australian Supersport title back in 2001 and that was on a GSX-R so it’s 10 years exactly since I’ve ridden a Suzuki and now I’ll have a go at BSB on one,” he continued. “There are a couple of ironies in it, but I’m looking forward to it a lot.”

Brookes has enjoyed a successful two seasons with the powerhouse HM Plant Honda team in 2009 and 2010 after switching from World Supersport, but he is confident that Suzuki will help him finally clinch the title next year.

“If I went back with Honda again I’d be on the same bike on the same team for the third year, and as much as I love racing, I’d already experience that combination,” Brookes explained. “Now, looking to next year, everything is really exciting since I’ll be with a new team on a new motorbike. It opens up a lot of new and exciting things to come.

“It is a big challenge for me to leave Honda, but I’m not worried about the team because I know that they’ll be good enough – they are well and truly capable of contending for the championship because they did this year.

“I know the bike’s strong as Suzuki has proven to be strong in the Superbike category, so that won’t be a problem either. I believe in myself too, so I think the combination of being with Suzuki will be strong next year.”

For more from Brookes in a full interview, including his comments on last weekend’s Bel-Ray 6 Hour victory with Wayne Maxwell and Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing, click here.