BBC commentator and former racer, Steve Parrish, will become the sixth person ever to ride an 800cc Ninja ZX-RR, when he takes Kawasaki's
MotoGP machine out for a test ride around the
Donington Park circuit ahead of the British Grand Prix.
Parrish will test
Randy de Puniet's race bike, which the Frenchman brought home in fifth place at Catalunya, at 12.30 on Thursday 21st June during the annual Day of Champions. The test ride will be broadcast on the
BBC during the build up to their live coverage of the British Grand Prix on Sunday 24th June.
Parrish was 22 years of age when he turned professional in 1976, riding alongside Barry Sheene in the Suzuki Grand Prix Team. His best year was 1977, when he finished fifth in the 500cc World Championship. Parrish, who is a practical joker of some repute in the paddock, then went on to win the British championship before turning his attention to four wheels, where he became the most successful truck racer in history by taking five European titles.
After retiring from racing in 2002, the 53-year-old Briton quickly established himself as the resident expert on motorcycle racing at the
BBC, with whom he's worked since 1985.
"Obviously I am very, very excited about riding the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR and particularly at Donington Park, my home Grand Prix and a circuit where I have ridden many times," declared Parrish.
"I have been looking at the Kawasaki all year and it looks to be a great bike, as Randy's fifth place at Catalunya proves. And it is obvious that the
Bridgestone tyres are working very well too. It is going to be the second 800cc MotoGP bike that I've tried and I am really looking forward to riding this time, as I already have some idea from riding the Suzuki and it will be interesting to see if there are any differences. I feel like one of the luckiest men in the paddock, as I also rode all the 990cc MotoGP bikes last year."
