Earlier this week, we have reported to you that Parkes will be sidelined for the upcoming 6 weeks due to a tibia injury sustained while training for the new Superbike season. Since he was the only rider entered in the WSBK for 2010 by Echo – the Italian team is a newcomer in the championship, having raced in the World Supersport series until this year – the Italians were forced to look immediately for a replacement.
The World Superbike season kicks off two weekends from now, at Phillip Island, and no other test session in the series is scheduled until then. Therefore, the team needed to find someone with at least some experience in riding Superbikes, while also available.
Brookes is no stranger from the World Superbike championship, as the Aussie used to ride for Alto Evolution Honda until mid-2007. He then parted ways with the team and moved to the Supersport categories, after which he eventually ended up in the British Superbike Championship for the 2009 season.
His presence at Echo might be prolonged for the 2nd round of the WSBK season also, as the Portimao race is scheduled one month away from the one at Phillip Island. Which means that if further complications are to appear with Parkes' recovery programme, he may get the chance to do some extra couple of WSBK races this season.
The British Superbike series kicks off in early April, at Brands Hatch.
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