Cube Racing press release:

Cube Racing’s local teenager Tom Toparis captured his first-career Australian Supersport Championship race and round wins at Wakefield Park on Sunday, much to the delight of his hometown fans in difficult conditions.

The 16-year-old rookie qualified on pole position during Saturday’s proceedings and then backed that form up with a gritty opening race win in slippery, wet conditions on Sunday morning.

A determined Toparis led race one from lap two, coming under attack during the final lap of 16, but remained composed and quickly retaliated to retake the lead and go on to win by 0.851s.

The afternoon’s race was even more dramatic, split into two parts due to rain falling in the second half, causing a red flag stoppage and subsequent restart to determine the final results.

In the six-lap sprint, despite being ordered to start from the rear of the field, Toparis rode beyond his years for a thrilling fourth-place to clinch the overall victory for the weekend.

“It was definitely a good weekend and I felt like I did a good job,” reflected Toparis. “There were a lot of different conditions this weekend, but we got it right in qualifying two on Saturday with a good strategy and managed to get pole.

“I didn’t really think I was going to win in the wet this morning, but I got the job done. On lap one I was third, people were going down everywhere, but I dropped the hammer and broke away to about an eight-second lead. From there I was a bit conservative and got passed on the last lap, but I fought back at the top of the hill and led the rest of the race. That was a really cool feeling to win my first Supersport race at home.

“In race two it was mixed weather conditions again and I led for a while, but I saw rain drops on my visor and some guys went past. I ended up back in the lead and pitted to get my wet bike, but as I was leaving, they called a red flag. They said I had to start from the back of the grid, which was frustrating because I didn’t feel I should have been and I could have been able to battle for the win if I was further up the grid.

“Anyway, I rode as fast as I could, dealt with what I had and came home fourth in sketchy conditions. That gave me the overall, which I was happy about, but I was disappointed with some things, that’s for sure. It’s really rewarding for myself and the Cube Racing team though – I’m glad I could get this result so early in the season and I feel like we are in it for the championship now.”
Cube Racing teammate Oli Bayliss also put in an exceptional performance in Goulburn, the 13-year-old finishing second overall in the Up To 300 Supersport ranks after qualifying fourth in class and registering 3-2-2 results.

Bayliss, the son of three-time Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss, has quickly displayed his road racing capabilities in what is his first full season, taking added confidence out of Wakefield Park while his experience builds.

“In the first race on Saturday I struggled a bit with the set-up, but on Sunday morning I was second and pretty happy with that,” Bayliss said. “In the third race I was going good and it started raining… about six people went down and I happened to be one of them! Anyway, I still got second in the race because they stopped it and second overall, so I’m really happy. It feels good to be on the podium and big thanks to Cube Racing.”

Cube Racing team owner Ben Henry was delighted with the finishes of both Toparis and Bayliss in largely difficult, mixed conditions experienced throughout the second round.

“We’re over the moon,” Henry explained. “Starting with Tommy, he doesn’t really have a home-track advantage because he hasn’t raced that much or really even ridden here any more than he’s ridden elsewhere – he just did a really good job and I’m really happy. We got drawn a bit of a rough card there in the second race, but it’s all panned out and he’s won the round. It won’t be his last win of the year, that’s for sure!

“Young Oli is going good and it was nice to see him on the podium in his class. I think he is a little bit nervous still, understandably, and I believe he has even more pace than he is showing in the races. He’s only 13 though and he is gaining so much experience every time out, so it’s a matter of putting it all together. There is no doubt that he has the ability to go on and win races, so it’s just great for the team to be a part of. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

The 2017 Australian Supersport Championship and Australian Supersport 300 Championship will resume with round three at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria on 28-30 April. Like Cube Racing on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for more details.