Image: Supplied.

Australia’s Tom Edwards capped off a promising weekend at Catalunya as the leading rider in the European-based World Supersport Challenge during race two, also qualifying a strong P4 on the grid in the Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP).

The World Supersport Challenge takes place at the European rounds of the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) and competes alongside the Supersport World Championship, with the leading challenge rider in each race recognised alongside the WorldSSP podium place-getters in parc ferme.

Catalunya marked the second round of the 2023 World Supersport Challenge, and Edwards qualified a strong P4 outright on the WorldSSP grid, just half a second from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing Ducati) on pole position.

A bad start in race one left Edwards with work to do, and he ultimately crossed the line in P14, less than a tenth behind leading challenge rider Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing). Edwards didn’t make a great launch again in race two but was able to salvage P11 which saw him take the chequered flag as the leading World Supersport Challenge rider.

“Really happy with our results this weekend, it’s a massive improvement from where we were in Assen just a few weeks ago,” said Edwards. “Every race brings a new lesson. I know where I need to improve and I’ll keep pushing.

“The team has been awesome this year, we’re all working together really well. For our first season as a team, I think we’re off to a great start. Look forward to making more and more progress.”

The next round of the 2023 Supersport World Championship – which also features the World Supersport Challenge – takes place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli between 2-4 June.