Brookes to replace Parkes in WSBK opener

Australian representation in the 2010 Yamaha Phillip Island opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island on February 26-28 has now returned to its original quota of four, following the announcement that Josh Brookes will deputise for injured countryman Broc Parkes.

Brookes will take the reins of Parkes' Echo CRS Honda CBR1000RR, on a circuit where he was a prolific winner during his domestic racing years, and also where he won the 2004 world supersport round as a wildcard after a stirring battle against fellow Australian Kevin Curtain.

Brookes now competes in the British Superbike Championship, where he was fourth as rookie in 2009.

"I got the call up by the Echo-CRS team to replace Broc after he got injured so I got straight in touch with the HM Plant Honda team and asked if I could do the race and they said yes," said Brookes. "So from then on it's been a mad rush trying to get things organised.

"I am at Phillip Island for the test which is great because I don't know a single thing about the bike or the team.

"This test will allow me to get to know the bike and the guys I will be working with before the race weekend.

"I'm excited to be in WSBK again, but I really don't know what to expect just yet because history tells us that jumping on someone else's bike at the last minute doesn't always make a good race result.

"I always try my best and I have had great success at Phillip Island before so you just never know what will happen.

"Also to ride in front of the Aussie fans again will be amazing. I have lots of support here at home and they obviously haven't been able to come and watch me race at the track when I am in the UK so they have been missing the JB action recently."

Brookes hasn't wasted any time in getting up to speed on the Echo CRS Honda, and was the second fastest Aussie in yesterday's morning's test session at Phillip Island, just 0.2secs behind dual world champion Troy Corser on his factory BMW.

In 2004, Brookes was the first rider to win the Australian superbike and supersport double, and he was third in the 2008 world supersport title, which included a victory at Donington.