Newcastle’s Broc Parkes will race at the final round of the 2013 Superbike World Championship at Jerez in Spain on October 20 with his team from the World Endurance Championship, Team Monster Energy Yamaha Austria (YART).
The team comes from a disappointing last round of the enduro championship at the Le Mans 24 hours last week. Parkes and his team mate Josh Hayes looked in a strong position to win the championship, when running third, 12 hours and 418 laps into the race, their YART no 7 R1 developed a technical problem and they were forced to retire.
But rather than hang up their boots for the year, YART team boss Mandy Kainz has decided to head to Spain to give his team a close look at the world superbike championship with hopes to campaign select rounds in 2014.
“We plan to enter Broc Parkes as wildcard in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship round at Jerez,” said Mandy Kainz.
The YART bikes, raced at Le Mans, are now at headquarters in the south of Graz, Austria, for the adjustments needed to take on October’s Spanish round.
“Our expectations are not particularly high. We do not know the track in Jerez and have no experience with the Pirelli tyres. A place in the top ten would be great in these circumstances,” added Kainz.
For the Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team this race could be a trial run for the coming year as well.
“We are seriously thinking about competing in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship , but only at a few selected events. The whole thing is a matter of budget of course. A full season is not an option at the moment,” Kainz concluded.
