Despite missing victory by just 0.009 seconds in Sunday’s opening round of World Supersport at Phillip Island, Aussie Broc Parkes says he’s confident the round will prove a great base to build from for the season ahead.

Parkes had issues to overcome as his brake fluid reservoir came loose and he had to drop back to readjust it, before rejoining the fight for what would have been a popular home town win for the Provec Motocard.com team rider.

“We were in with a chance right to the very end, and took a podium,” Parkes reflected. “I felt very good on the bike and I was trying to get into a rhythm.

“I had a little problem when my brake reservoir came loose and I had to tuck it into the fairing, so I dropped back to seventh for a bit. From there I decided to go with it and I picked the boys off at the front one by one.

“When it is that close you know the season is going to be good!”

Parkes enters the 2011 season as a title favourite, his first full season with the factory Kawasaki effort.

Fellow Aussie Mitch Pirotta was ruled out in the early stages after experiencing clutch dramas on his Kuja Racing CBR600RR.

The World Supersport race at Phillip Island was won by former Superbike rider Luca Scassa, who has joined Yamaha on the ex-Cal Crutchlow R6.