Source: YART.

Australian international duo Broc Parkes and Josh Brookes are on the verge of a potential race victory at the annual Suzuka 8 Hours stop on the World Endurance calendar this weekend in Japan, teaming up for the Monster Energy Yamaha YSP factory effort.

The 2013 Suzuka 8 Hours race saw Monster Energy Yamaha leave from pole position and finish in eighth place after encountering difficulties during the all-star affair.

This year the Monster Energy Yamaha YSP team is one of the favourites to win. The team placed second fastest during the pre-race test and will go all out to conquer the top step of the podium.

Parkes has proven quick during pre-race testing back aboard the Superbike during his rookie MotoGP season, and the added benefit of competing on Bridgestone tyres will increase his chances of success in 2014.

“I’m really excited for Suzuka and would really like to thank Yamaha for giving me this opportunity again,” Parkes said. “I think this year we have a very strong team and have shown in testing already that we have a chance to fight at the front. For me Suzuka is the hardest physical race on my calendar this year.”

BSB front-runner Brookes has excelled on the YZFF-R1 to date in 2014 and after posting a podium last year with Yoshimura Suzuki, he’s confident the combination Monster Energy Yamaha YSP will place them in an ideal position for success.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I have been able to up my training regime in recent months, so I am hoping I should be able to cope with the heat and spending long stints on the bike well enough,” he explained.

“It will be a learning year for me so I am not expecting there to be a lot of pressure on me. I just want to go out there and enjoy the experience. There will be different tyres to learn, but I have already been doing my homework on the track. It should be good fun.”

Parkes and Brookes will partner Japanese ace Katsuyuki Nakasuga on the Monster Energy Yamaha YSP YZF-R1 in this year’s running of the prestigious event.

Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) also raises expectations for the 2014 running, fielding Wayne Maxwell, Rick Olson and Tommy Bridewell on a Pirelli-equipped R1.