Parkes heading to BSB in 2015?
That appears to be a likely scenario, with his current PBM MotoGP squad set to be closed down at the end of the current seasonAccording to a report in British motorcycle weekly MCN, millionaire businessman Paul Bird will close down his eponymous MotoGP team at the end of 2014 and expand his British superbike presence with a second two-rider team – with Aussie Broc Parkes firmly in the mix to remain in the fold.
Bird plans to sell his two MotoGP grid spots, with Aprilia the most likely suitor, and will then collaborate with a different manufacturer for his second British superbike team – he currently fields Shane Byrne and Stuart Easton on Kawasaki ZX-10Rs.
Speaking to MCN in Indianapolis last weekend where Laverty and Parkes both finish inside the points for the first time together, the PBM owner said: “I am really excited about BSB because it will definitely be working with two different brands.
"It looks like I can run with another manufacturer and have two teams on different bikes operating as two separate identities. I’d like to keep Michael and Broc. Broc is keen and Michael would like to stay here (in MotoGP) but I don’t think that is going to be possible.
Asked by MCN whether he would ever seriously consider returning to world superbikes, Bird’s response was: “I would rather stick a fork in my eye.”
Bird has run his MotoGP squad since 2012 and built his own chassis to run Aprilia engines.
If Parkes join the BSB brigade in 2015, he would link up with fellow Aussie hotshots Josh Waters and Josh Brookes.
Meanwhile, Byrne is on track to win his fourth BSB title in 2014, and currently holds a massive69-point lead over Brookes with five rounds remaining.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
