Curtain and Parkes complete Yamaha Motor Germany's 2005 line-up

4/10/2004

Yamaha Motor Germany has completed its line-up for the 2005 Supersport World
Championship with the signing of Broc Parkes to race alongside fellow Australian
Kevin Curtain.

The continuation of the partnership with Curtain was completed in August, when
the 38-year-old from Sydney signed a one-year extension to his current deal,
while today's signing of the highly-rated Parkes completes a formidable pairing
of youth and experience for the officially-supported Yamaha Motor Germany squad.

Curtain, the winner of 12 national titles and two world supersport races,
finished the 2004 season in sixth place while Parkes, 22, ended his second full
season of world supersport racing as runner-up to Karl Muggeridge, finishing on
the podium five times.

Yamaha Motor Germany will campaign the updated 2005 model YZF-R6, unveiled
recently at the Intermot show in Munich. The new machine features a number of
developments which benefit race teams as well as road riders, most notably new
upside-down front forks, radial brakes with larger diameter discs and a revised
fuel injection system with larger (40mm) throttle bodies.

Kevin Curtain: "I can't wait to test the new R6 when we go to Qatar in December.
Our current bike is already very fast and able to challenge for wins but the
modifications to the new bike look like making it even easier to ride, which is
very important in world supersport racing."

Broc Parkes: "After finishing second this season I'm really motivated to go one
better next year. Having been around the paddock for the last few years I have
got to know the guys at Yamaha Germany and I know that they are a good team and
my best option for winning the title. After spending the last two years at Honda
my aim is to follow in the footsteps of Valentino Rossi and take the 2005
supersport title with Yamaha!"

Terrell Thien, Yamaha Motor Germany team manager: "We're really happy to
finalise our team so soon after the end of the season. In Broc and Kevin we feel
that we have two riders capable of challenging for the title in 2005. Broc is
under contract to his present team until the end of November but we have a test
planned at the new circuit in Qatar where he and Kevin will get their first
chance to ride the 2005 R6."

Kevin Curtain profile

Date of birth: 22.05.1966
Place of birth: Sydney, Australia 
Height: 170cm
Weight: 60kg

Career highlights

2004: Supersport World Championship (sixth)
2003: Australian Supersport Champion
Australian Formula Xtreme Champion
2002: Supersport World Championship (11th)
2001: Supersport World Championship (fifth)
2000: Australian Supersport Champion
Australian Formula Xtreme Champion
1999: Australian Formula Xtreme Champion
1998: Australian Pro-Superbike Champion
Australian Formula Xtreme Champion
1997: Australian Supersport Championship (fourth)
1996: Australian Supersport Champion
1995: Australian 250cc Production Champion

Broc Parkes profile

Date of birth: 24.12.1981
Place of birth: Hunter Valley, Australia
Height: 170cm
Weight: 64kg

Career highlights

2004: Supersport World Championship (second)
2003: Supersport World Championship (13th)
2002: Superbike World Championship (11th)
2001: Superbike World Championship (16th)
2000: All-Japan X-Formula Championship (third)
1999: Australian 125 Champion
Australian 250 Production Champion