Image: Foremost Media.

A full-time transfer to the Superbike category has been further delayed for Tom Toparis, the Stop & Seal Racing rider to remain on the Yamaha R6 for round two of the 2024 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The two-time Supersport champion was initially slated to contest the entire year in the premier class, although he forfeited his ASBK commitments in favour of a WorldSSP wildcard at Phillip Island’s season-opener last month.

Toparis, who recently returned to Australia after contesting the Daytona 200 in what was a campaign marred by technical issues, is yet to ride the Stop & Seal Yamaha R1 this year, motivating the decision to remain in Supersport this weekend.

“Tom hasn’t ridden the superbike at all this year,” stated Robbie Bolger, Stop & Seal Racing team owner. “After riding our R6 in the world championship, and with some of the other opportunities that lie ahead for Tom, we decided it would best for him to race his ASBK R6 in Sydney to stay on somewhat similar equipment.

“He had some fun in the US, and gained some more valuable experience over there but it will be great to have the whole team together in one box for the first time, and really work together to see some strong results across the whole team.”

Stop & Seal Racing’s expanded effort will see the team with five Supersport entries, where Toparis will be joined by Jack Mahaffy, Archie McDonald, Corey Turner and Glenn Nelson.