News 25 Feb 2018

Phillip Island victories for Cube Racing's Toparis and Bayliss

Cube Racing press release:

Cube Racing teenagers Tom Toparis and Oli Bayliss reigned supreme in Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) series, winning the Supersport and Supersport 300 classes respectively.

For Toparis, 17, it was a double-header event in which he rode the three domestic races alongside a wildcard entry in the Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP). After qualifying fifth in the wet, Toparis went on to win all three ASBK Supersport races to lead the championship following round one.

The Goulburn racer also shined in his first-career WorldSSP appearance, finishing among a host of experienced world championship campaigners to score a point in 15th this afternoon. He learned a lot over the course of race week, which will benefit him into the national season.

“To win all three races was such a good reward for the team and I, we’ve worked so hard and it’s been a big week,” recalled Toparis. “Everybody has put in so much effort and it’s a great way to start to season with 75 points. I also got points in WorldSSP, learned so much riding and it was just good fun. It’s exciting for me and really opens your eyes up! Thanks again to the team for everything, it was so good.”

Bayliss was just as impressive in the nail-biting Supersport 300 ranks, rocketing from 10th on the grid to finish with 1-2-1 results in the trio of races. It was a coming of age of sorts for the 14-year-old, impressing onlookers throughout the round and establishing an early championship lead.

“It’s been such a good weekend, the pressure seems to give me that bit more adrenaline and I’m excited to win,” Bayliss commented. “It was so much fun and I’ve improved a lot since this time last year, so I’m really happy. That last one was one of the craziest races I’ve ever had! I’m pumped to win it.”

Cube Racing team owner and manager Ben Henry said it was an exceptional result for the team to begin the 2018 season in such commanding fashion and is proud of the two youthful riders’ performances. The start to the series couldn’t have been any more positive.

“Both of the boys are leaving here leading their national championships and it’s so good,” Henry explained. “I’m really happy for them and us as a team, plus Tom got points in WorldSSP, which was really impressive and a big effort for a young kid. He did really, really good all week in testing and the race weekend. I couldn’t be happier with how both Tom and Oli have performed to start the season.”

Next up will be round two of the 2018 championship at Wakefield Park in New South Wales, the home round of Toparis and an event that is certain to see the talented Bayliss among the front of the field once again.

Like Cube Racing on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information. Cube Performance Centre also has an exclusive Cube Racing section on its website, available to view at www.cubeperformancecentre.com.au/cuberacing now.

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