Australian Broc Parkes is to join Ulsterman Michael Laverty to contest next year’s MotoGP world championship, Paul Bird Motorsport has announced. In the British Superbike Championship, triple champion Shane “Shakey” Byrne will team up with British Supersport champion Stuart Easton on a Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Laverty, on the PBM Aprilia, ended his debut season in the MotoGP World Championship in 25th overall with a best result of 13th at Jerez. Parkes, meanwhile, is a former runner-up in the World Supersport Championship and raced a Kawasaki for the PBM team in World Superbikes in 2009.
In the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Byrne was narrowly beaten to the title in the very last race of the season but became the most successful rider in BSB history, taking his tally to 51 wins. Returning to the team he last raced with in 2012, Scotsman Stuart Easton is hoping to add to his success for the Cumbrian-based team.
All four bikes are expected to run in the traditional British Racing Green livery and the team will be officially unveiled at the London Motorcycle Show, 14-16 February.
The opening round of the MotoGP takes place at Qatar on 23 March, with round one of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship taking place at Brands Hatch on 21 April.
More information can be found at www.pbmuk.net or the official championship websites www.motogp.com and www.britishsuperbike.com.
Parkes joins Laverty in MotoGP team
