Racing: Parkes to continue in WSBK
Will race a privateer HondaOusted Kawasaki world superbike factory rider Broc Parkes will remain in the category next year after signing with a privateer Italian team.
The Australian, a five-time world supersport race winner, will race an ex-Stiggy CBR1000RR for the Echo CRS Honda Racing Team, which is taking a step up from its current world supersport commitments.
The Parkes announcement occurred at the same time as Aprilia finally revealed its open secret - reigning British superbike champion Leo Camier will be riding alongside Max Biaggi next year as a replacement for the retired Shinya Nakano.
Parkes' countryman Russell Holland signed with Echo CRS to compete in the 2009 world supersport title, but the collaboration was over before the championship hit the halfway mark.
Leon Hallam rode a Stiggy Honda in this year's superbike title, and finished a superb sixth overall with four podium finishes.
With his reprieve, Parkes now joins Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki) and Troy Corser (BMW) as the three confirmed Aussies for 2010 world superbike action. Vermeulen and Tom Sykes have replaced Parkes and Japan's Makota Tamada at Kawasaki.
Vermeulen had his first test at Autopolis in Japan last week, which was a truncated affair - just one half-day -- because of extremely cold weather.
"I was just riding to get the bars, footpegs and seat in the right place," said Vermeulen. "Just general things like that, all the early stuff you try to get done. We played around with some small set-up things as well.
"On the chassis side the bike felt well balanced and did everything fairly well for a first ride in the conditions we had. It was pretty much just a basic test. I guess I did somewhere between 30 and 40 laps."
Vermeulen will get his next chance to ride the machine at Cartagena in Spain at the end of November.
Meanwhile, Andrew Pitt, Anthony West and Mark Aitchison, all world supersport riders in 2009, are yet to announce their plans for next year, with most of the desirable seats already spoken for - at least at the international level.
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