Road Racer X's Speed Dating & Morais Filling In for Parkes

For this week of March we have a number of important dates in the weekly Road Racer X Speed Dating column. Celebrating birthdays this week are Danny Webb, Andrea Dovizioso, Roberto Rolfo, Al Ludington, Steve McQueen, Keiichi Kitagawa, Raffaele De Rosa, Harald Eckl, Chris Walker, Burt Munro, Sebastien Charpentier, Toni Elias, Christian Sarron, Bill Bagnall, and Katsuaki Fujuwara. Unfortunately, it is also the anniversary of the death of Mike Hailwood...Please take the link to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/yfh76yc

In the World Superbike Championship series, Echo CRS Honda rider Broc Parkes sustained a broken leg in a preseason training injury and had to give up his seat to Josh Brookes at Phillip Island. For the Portimao round (and, quite possibly for Valencia as well), the faster Sheridan Morais will be substituting for Parkes on the Honda. Morais has been able to out-ride Parkes before, so this may be the beginning of something or just a quick trip to the majors for Morais...

http://tinyurl.com/yh6pmnt

Friday Morning Moto News - WSBK, Brookes for Parkes & Gary Mason

The World Superbike Championship teams have all taken their equipment down to Phillip Island for the second official test of the 2010 season. The testing action actually begins on Sunday (21 February) and will go through the following day. Then, the big weekend comes and the WSBK teams have started their season - that all happens 26 - 28 February. For all the details, take one of the links below.

http://tinyurl.com/y9dl3zk

http://tinyurl.com/ykp5qcs

The injured Broc Parkes will be replaced on his Echo CRS Honda WSBK team by racer Josh Brookes. It marks the return of Brookes to WSBK after being away for two years. The deal only goes through the first race at Phillip Island, but it could be extended...

http://tinyurl.com/yfuz8uf

In the BSB paddock, Gary Mason is going for the Championship! Of course, all riders in the fields will want to do that, and most will figure they have some chance of it at the beginning of the season. But, Mason has already won the Privateer's Cup last year, so his next step is that Championship. Will he take Kawasaki to the top of the BSB podium? Well, we will all have to stay tuned...

http://tinyurl.com/yd9cxvj

Monday Morning Moto News - Suzuki Alstare, Kenny Noyes & Broc Parkes

Alstare Suzuki has also unveiled their 2010 World Superbike livery. Riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli have a pair of very sweet looking Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes with which to tackle the World Championship. At least they will look good doing so...

http://tinyurl.com/yf7yvc2

American Kenny Noyes is the only American in the Moto2 series in 2010, but that is not a problem for the Spanish-born rider. He is riding on the Antonio Banderas Jack and Jones team, a new partnership for the Championship. His partner in crime is Joan Olive - and they are both ready to start racing!

http://tinyurl.com/yh6s9w8

After hearing that Jorge Lorenzo will be missing the next MotoGP test, and that Hayden is having surgery on his arm - but will still make the test - now we get news that in World Superbike, Australian Broc Parkes has broken his leg in a training accident. He will miss the opener in his home nation and could be out for as long as six weeks. That's not a good way to start a season...

http://tinyurl.com/yjougpz

Late Morning Moto News - Gary McCoy, ASBK & Broc Parkes

Gary McCoy was shafted by his World Supersport team, Triumph ParkinGO BE1 Racing. So, he is hoping to gain a ride in the Moto2 series. He has some interest from a builder, but nothing has been decided yet. Given his ability to put a bike on track and fight for a win, McCoy deserves to get a seat with some team and soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yd9vunj

He was stunned at being dumped: http://tinyurl.com/yezsjex

The Australian Superbike Championship - Motorcycling Australia - has announced practice days at Phillip Island. They will be 28 - 29 January 2010. For the details, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ybjzewv

Broc Parkes has made his debut on the Honda CBR1000RR with the Italian Echo-CRS Honda team. He will be competing in the 2010 World Superbike Championship, so his practice time on the new machine is critical. It turns out that he had a good test and all went well. This will be the first season in WSBK for the team, but not the rider...

http://tinyurl.com/yd4684q

Broc Parkes Will Remain in World Superbike in 2010

The Echo CRS Honda team has signed Broc Parkes for the 2010 World Superbike season. He finished 18th in the 2009 WSBK standings with the PBM Kawasaki team but made an impressive run during the BSB race at Brands Hatch; there he finished second in all three races. Echo is moving up to Superbike from World Supersport and will be fielding ex-Stiggy Honda CBR1000RR bikes in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/y9ftnjs