Hacking joins Parkes for Miller World Superbike

From PBM Kawasaki

For the second meeting in succession, regular Paul Bird Motorsport Team rider Broc Parkes will be joined by a local rider when the seventh round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship visits Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City May 29-31.

In the continued absence of Makoto Tamada due to his broken wrist sustained at Monza, Aussie Parkes had South African Sheridan Morais as team-mate last weekend in Kyalami and for next weekend's round in America, he will be joined by three-time AMA champion Jamie Hacking.

The 27-year-old Parkes is hoping to be further recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained during testing in the UK, which forced him to miss Assen but is buoyed by a brace of points scoring finishes last time out at Kyalami and is hoping to improve on his 18th place in the standings.

"I'm grateful to have a two week rest between Kyalami and Miller to give my body a break and to get back to a decent fitness level as I really struggled in Kyalami," Parkes said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how we go when I'm back to myself as the bike has been improving each race and we're showing good progress with solid point scoring finishes. I didn't race at Miller in World Supersport last year so this will be my first visit but I'm looking forward to it and also welcoming another new team-mate who is a local and will have experience he can bring to the team."

British-born Hacking, 37, ran Ben Spies close in last year's race at the Utah track, as well as wild carding at the Laguna Seca MotoGP where he finished in 11th place, so is expected to show well on the www.supercasino.com, Vent-Axia and Kick Energy-backed Kawasaki ZX-10R.

"I rode World Superbikes back when I first started racing at Laguna Seca," Hacking said. "Obviously a lot has changed and I have more experience. I can't really say what a realistic expectation would be without riding the bike, but Miller does seem to suit my style. Last year, it was our best track on the ZX-10R and I hope that we can try for a top 10."