Tom Toparis (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6) will start from Pole Position for Race 1 in the Supersport Class for Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK, March 22-24) at Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW. Toparis was once again in magnificent form at his home track, a superb qualifying performance saw him set a time of 59.399. However a late charge from Broc Pearson (Yamaha YZF-R6) saw him close the gap to Toparis markedly, suggesting that Toparis may not have it all his own way when the field goes racing tomorrow. 

Toparis hit his straps early in Qualifying 1, being the only rider able to carve his way around the Wakefield Park layout in under 60 seconds as he was in Free Practice yesterday. His 59.760 saw him top the session, ahead of Reid Battye (Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R 1:00.130) and Pearson. Oli Bayliss crashed at turn nine trying to extract the most from the Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 and could only manage fourth (1:00.188), ahead of Ty Lynch (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:00.824) and Nic Liminton. (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:01.182).

The second qualifying session saw Pearson edge ever closer to joining Toparis in the sub-1 minute bracket, and he finally cracked it with three minutes to go to post a 59.882 as his fastest. Meanwhile Toparis got busy lowering his quickest time even further, smashing a 59.399 to stamp his dominance on the session once again. Battye was unable to improve on his time from the first session and came third, Bayliss fourth unable to beat his time from Qualifying 1. Liminton was fifth (1:00.477), and Lynch sixth (1:00.824).

Toparis was pleased with his qualifying performance and looking forward to a close battle. “Hopefully there’s some good racing tomorrow” he said. “The other competitors have closed the gap a lot since last round, and it’s going to be a good fight”.

Combined Qualifying Results:

1 Tom TOPARIS (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6 59.399)

2 Broc PEARSON (Yamaha YZF-R6 59.882)

3 Reid BATTYE (Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R 1:00.130)

4 Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.188)

5 Nicholas LIMINTON (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.477)

6 Ty LYNCH (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.824)

7 Rhys BELLING (LXI Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.070)

8 Aidan HAYES (Hayes Johnston Pty. Ltd. Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.110)

9 Dallas SKEER (Penrite Oils, Suzuki GSX-R 1:01.212)

10 Chris QUINN (Coopers Dry, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.443)

Images courtesy of Andrew Gosling – tbg sport

By MA