In spite of winning the 2009 AMA SuperSport West Championship Ricky Parker found opportunities for the 2010 season looking very slim, but some extra leg work on his part has paid off with a ride in the 2010 Italian Supersport Championship. “I waited to find something to race in the U.S., but the economy got bad,” Parker told Roadracingworld.com Friday. “So I got to looking over in Europe. I called one of my old mechanics, my first mechanic ever, actually. ‘Do you need a rider? Is there anyone you know over there that could possibly help me out in racing?’ “He calls me a day later and said, ‘I spoke to the head guy at Honda Europe, Carlo Fiorani. He has some friends who have a team, and they need a rider. It looks like you called at the right time.'” After actually speaking to Honda Europe Racing Manager Carlo Fioranni, Parker spoke directly to the owner of the Vel Motor 2000 team and sorted out a deal for him to race their Honda CBR600RR in the seven-round CIV (Campionato Italiano Velocita) Supersport Championship. “And it looks we’re going to do a couple of World Supersport races,” added Parker, “and if we do good we might do the whole season. It just depends on the results.” Parker said he is currently waiting for his passport to be renewed, then he will buy his airline ticket to attend the team’s first test February 28 at Mugello. He will then base himself in northern Italy, where he grew up. For those who do not know, Parker is the 21-year-old son of two-time Motocross World Champion Trampas Parker, but it was not his father’s name or money out of his own pocket that got 20-year-old Parker his new ride. “That’s part of the reason I’m really excited,” said Parker. “I pulled something out with my own name. Times are hard right now, and I don’t think it matters who your dad is. That might get some beginner rider in, but it’s not going to work nowadays. Teams want good riders, and that’s all these guys wanted was for me to show up and ride. I have to get myself to the track, but that’s all that comes out of my pocket.”