Aussie hope Broc Parkes finished fourth in Monza, now third in the WSS title chase.

Australia’s Broc Parkes remains in contention for the Supersport World Championship following a fine fourth place finish for Kawasaki at Monza on Sunday.

Under brilliant sunshine Parkes made a good start and was looking capable of staying with the group immediately behind runaway early leader and eventual race victor Chaz Davies, but Broc ended up in a battle for fourth at the end.

He used all his experience to control that fight in the final sector of the race and got a good points haul as a reward.

“I was pretty happy because I got away good from the line,” Parkes said. “I was a little bit concerned about my pace after morning warm-up. It is so important to have a good top speed here but also pace in other areas.

“Two guys came past me and then I ended went fourth. I could see that this probably going to be my battle so I tried to stay there.

“Every time I tried to break the guys behind they could slipstream me so I sat on the back until I felt I could go and then I tried in the last three or four laps and I broke them to get fourth place.

“I think that was the best I could do today in the circumstances.”

Parkes is third in the rankings, on 60 points compared to the joint leaders Davies and Luca Scassa on 70, and Parkes is still well in contention after four rounds.