Signs of progress for Kawasaki at Valencia
The most significant aspect is that the Japanese four-cylinder machine is beginning to get closer to the performance of the top bikes, and the early laps of the race even saw the Australian rider in amongst the front-runners in fifth place. A tenth place at the flag is a sign that the bike is becoming more competitive over a race distance as well.
Race 2 wasn't so good, with Parkes losing grip at the front, dropping him to 17th place. Makoto Tamada also finished in the points in race 1, a good result after his nasty crash in Qatar when he broke his left big toe.
"Race one was good" said Parkes. "We got a good start and got through the first two corners pretty well, in seventh and running with the front guys. I got a bit of a tow for about four or five laps, then started to drop off and a few other guys came past me. Overall our race pace is much better, and we are getting much more confident with the bike. I am remembering how to ride a Superbike! I'm really enjoying myself actually. Thanks to Kawasaki and all the guys in the team because I had a crash on Friday and the team fixed it well, because when I hopped on the bike on Saturday morning it was perfect. Well done to them all. In race two I could not get any feel from the front tyre for some reason and it was a long race. Everyone's pace was slower in race two it seems, but we were quite a bit off. But we are looking forward to the next races because race one here showed us what is possible."
