Australian rider Broc Parkes will join Jack Miller on the MotoGP grid at this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The 35-year-old will make a home GP appearance filling in for Jonas Folger – who is suffering from an undiagnosed illness – on the Tech 3 Monster Yamaha in a one-off ride.
Parkes previously contested the 2014 MotoGP season on a PBM – a modified Aprilia ART run by the Paul Bird Motors team. Three times in the points, his best finish was 11th at Assen.
It’s understood the one-race-only deal came about when Michael van der Mark was unavailable due to the clash of dates with the Jerez round of the WSBK series, where he rides for the factory Yamaha Superbike team.
Parkes’ inclusion brings the number of Aussies competing in the three world championship classes at Phillip Island to four. Jack Miller and Broc Parkes in MotoGP, Remy Gardner in Moto2 and Tom Toparis in Moto3.
“Of course, I would like to thank the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team for giving me the amazing opportunity to race at my home Grand Prix in front of all of my supporters, fans and family. I am really looking forward to getting on the Yamaha YZR-M1 at Phillip Island and giving it my all!”
Yamaha Press Release:
Experienced Australian rider Broc Parkes will fill in for the recovering Jonas Folger in front of his home crowd this weekend at Phillip Island. Folger returned to his native Germany before the Japanese Grand Prix to undertake blood tests for the suspected Epstein Barr virus. Monster Yamaha Tech3 would like to welcome Parkes, who has previously competed in MotoGP in 2014 and who has achieved success in the World Superbike and Supersport leagues. The Australian ace is also a competitive front-runner in the FIM Endurance World Championship for the Yamaha Austria Racing Team having picked up four podiums in fifteen races.
