No circuit on the WSS calendar can match the sheer velocities reached at Monza and both Broc Parkes and David Salom from the Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com team are going out to enjoy its unique nature.
Parkes is a serial winner in this class of racing, but has yet to take his first full victory for Kawasaki despite a few strong podiums since he joined the official Kawasaki team at the end of last year. Broc also knows there is no better place to write your name large in the public consciousness than Monza, one of his personal favourites. Despite some residual pain from a rib injury, Parkes expects to be on top form at Monza, and he is only three points behind the lead after three action packed races in the 12-round series.
David is still working to improve his own physical condition to be strong throughout the entire race on May 8. Salom is proving to be a strong asset for the official Kawasaki team, as he is currently in fifth place and only 16 points behind the lead - and therefore only 13 behind Broc. The competition in this class in 2011 is remarkably close. That may see the usual trains of riders using each other’s slipstreams around the ultra-fast Monza bringing in more and more potential competitors this weekend. Always a favourite with riders and spectators, Monza will be a difficult race result to call for this very reason.
Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki riders Vittorio Iannuzzo and Massimo Roccoli will be in the mix at their home race, aiming high after some strong results I have already been recorded. Roccoli is now seventh overall.
Broc Parkes:
“I feel much better in terms of my rib cartilage injury and I have been doing a bit more training, so my injury is getting better and better. I feel we have not been able to show our full abilities in the first three races because of some things that have happened – like being run off track at Assen - but we are still second in the championship and only three points off the lead. Monza is a great track but you have to have a strong engine there. If you can stay in the draft you can get pulled along, but you never know at Monza. It is a unique track and it has got to be one of my favourite circuits. The atmosphere is awesome and springtime is a nice time to go there to race.”
David Salom:
“Monza is a very difficult circuit because there are a lot of areas where there is hard braking and long straights. Now our bike is working very well and therefore I think we can also do very well. I like the second part of the circuit, particularly the Ascari Chicane. When we get there we must work quickly to find good settings as soon as possible and for sure if we do, we can be on top. At the moment after only a few races we can still finish the championship in the top positions as all the top five are now close together. I have to look after my shoulder injury recovery because Assen was a very hard race for me. I am working with my physiotherapist a lot so I hope to be at the highest level when we get to Italy.”
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