Teenage motorcycle racing star Tom Toparis has left no stone unturned in his preparation for the opening round of the 2019 Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island’s Yamaha Finance round from February 22-24.
After a “warm-up” wildcard in the 2018 Phillip Island WorldSSP round when he finished in 15th position, the 18-year-old from Goulburn (NSW) believes he now has all the key elements in place to “give it a red-hot go” in 2019.
“I didn’t really have a major goal ahead of the 2018 event,” said Toparis, who’s the current Aussie supersport No.2. “In 2019, armed with my new Yamaha, I am certainly aiming at scoring at least a point, or even points, and I want to get my lap times down into the 1:34 bracket.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Toparis has switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha machinery in 2019 and, as well as the YZF-R6 he’ll be riding in the Aussie title, a bespoke machine is being prepared for his one-off ride in the 18-lap WorldSSP race on February 24.
“I’ll be racing with the Landbridge Transport team, and they are the same outfit that ran Aiden Wagner and Mitch Levy in WorldSSP,” said Toparis, who’s an apprentice builder.
“Sam Costanzo is putting together the R6, and I’m confident that with the work we’re putting in with the suspension, engine and data logging, we won’t be at too much of a disadvantage compared to the internationals.
“We’ve also got a great data technician, Adrian Monti, joining us so that’s going to be a great help. That all said, I also want some familiarity with the WorldSSP machine: I don’t want it to feel much different to my local bike, which I am already very comfortable on.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Toparis will ride his WorldSSP Yamaha at the official two-day test at Phillip Island on February 18-19. There he’ll be joined by the championship top brass such as 2018 Phillip Island winner Lucas Mahias, Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher, Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele de Rosa, as well as new faces such as Hector Barbera and Isaac Vinales.
“I really love the thrill and challenge of world championship competition,” continued Toparis, who also has Moto3 wildcards to his name. “It helps me to become more race-hardened, and Phillip Island is also one of my best circuits – so why not try and take advantage of that.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Like fellow Goulburn native Troy Herfoss in WorldSBK, Toparis will be the only Aussie competing in WorldSSP – and he’ll also start his 2019 domestic supersport campaign at Phillip Island as well.
With 13 races across the race weekend including the Australian supports, the schedule launches a new and expanded WorldSBK formula: two 22-lap races at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, and a 10-lap no-holds-barred sprint at midday on Sunday. World Supersport races Sunday in an 18-lap showdown, with Australian Superbike, Supersport and Production 300 completing the bill with races across Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets now on sale A three-day general admission pass with FREE Paddock access for World Superbikes is just $120*, secured in advance, or $230* when you add on-circuit camping to your purchase.
For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
2019 WorldSBK Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R livery revealed
Álvaro Bautista & Chaz Davies headline Ponte San Pietro team launch
The 2019 Superbike World Championship Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team has officially unveiled the new Panigale V4R in team livery, as well as introducing Álvaro Bautista who joins Chaz Davies on the team, having competed the last nine years in MotoGP.
2019 WorldSBK Aruba.it Racing Ducati team presentation
2019 is a particularly noteworthy year for Ducati, as the manufacturer introduces a four-cylinder Superbike for the very first time in the Panigale V4 R, having won 17 Manufacturers’ and 14 Riders’ titles since 1988.
The Panigale V4 R, developed on the basis of experience accumulated in MotoGP, features a number of evolutions from the previous model, not only from an engine point of view, but also in terms of chassis, electronics and aerodynamics.
Álvaro Bautista
With regard to the riders, the arrival of Álvaro Bautista is equally significant, the Spaniard highly motivated and ready to face a new professional challenge in Superbike after nine years spent racing in MotoGP.
The 34-year-old from Talavera de la Reina is a rider with considerable experience, having also raced in 250cc and in 125cc, the category in which he won the title in 2006, and he has rapidly adapted to the new technical scenario.
Álvaro Bautista
“I can’t wait to start this new adventure. The balance of the winter tests is really positive. The project is a new one and there’s still a lot of work to be done but lap after lap we found a good base to work on. I still have to adapt to this new technical situation, particularly the tyres, but the performance shown in just six days of testing is undoubtedly encouraging. Phillip Island is a spectacular track and I’ve always liked it, there couldn’t be a better place to begin this exciting new adventure and we’ll do our best to be ready.”
Álvaro Bautista
He will line up alongside the 31-year-old Welshman from Knighton, Chaz Davies, three-time championship runner-up in the last four seasons, who has put the past year’s bad injuries behind him and who will tackle his sixth successive season in Superbike aboard a factory Ducati.
Chaz Davies
Chaz Davies
“I’m very excited and motivated about the season that’s about to start. After five years and many great memories with the twin-cylinder bike, the time has come to begin a new challenge and I can’t wait to get back on track with the Panigale V4 R. My last tests were hampered a bit by the twinge I felt in my back, but my overall physical condition is much better than last year and in any case we managed to complete our test schedule. We’ve still got two more days of testing left and they will be fundamental to define the last details, and then finally we’ll be racing again. The start of the year is going to be even more exciting than ever, and having a new bike – as well as a new team-mate – is going to be extra motivation for me.”
Chaz Davies
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will now set off for Australia, where the traditional pre-season tests will be taking place at Phillip Island on 18th and 19th February in view of the opening round of the 2019 Superbike World Championship held at the same track on the following weekend, from 22nd to 24th February.
Claudio Domenicali – CEO of Ducati Motor Holding
“This year we will truly witness a historic turning-point. Racing is an inseparable part of Ducati, just think of the many examples in which the technology and know-how developed on the track have then been applied to production models. The Panigale V4 is a perfect example of this philosophy: it’s the first Ducati production bike to be fitted with a four-cylinder engine and equipped with technology coming from MotoGP. In just twelve months it has become the new benchmark for style, technology and performance, with more than 6,100 units delivered across the globe, and it has allowed us – for the first time ever in company history – to achieve a global sales record in the superbike market segment. Now we also want to take it to the top on the track, its natural habitat, by making it become the king of SBK in the 1000cc R version.”
Sorry, Jonathan Rea 🎂We don’t have any birthday cake for you. But we have something much better…Enjoy with us every emotion you’ve made us feel when you are on track. Happy 32nd Birthday Champion Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Reigning Australian Superbike (ASBK) champion Troy Herfoss is out for redemption on the world stage in the opening round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this February 22-24.
Returning as a WorldSBK wildcard for the second year in succession, the soon-to-be 32-year-old says the difficulties he and his team had in 2018 serve as motivation to really get amongst it in 2019 – in a field that will contain superstars such as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki), Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), Tom Sykes (BMW), Alex Lowes (Yamaha), Leon Camier (Honda), Leon Haslam (Kawasaki), Chaz Davies (Ducati) and Marco Melandri (Yamaha).
Troy Bayliss and Troy Herfoss raced wheel to wheel in the ASBK season opener at Phillip Island – TBG Image
“The original plan was to do a WorldSBK wildcard in my second year with Deon (Coote), but we got a bit excited and jumped straight in the deep end last year,” said Herfoss, who was raised in Goulburn (NSW) but now lives on the Gold Coast. “As a result, we were underdone but on the flipside we learnt a lot of things which we can bring to the table in 2019.”
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
Melbourne-based Coote took ownership of Honda Australia’s official superbike team at the start of the 2018 season and, while the WorldSBK wildcard campaign was eventually scuppered by mechanical problems last year, Herfoss had a great year in the domestic series and went onto win his second ASBK title in three years – adding to a stellar CV already embedded with national supermoto (2006) and supersport (2010) titles.
Troy Herfoss celebrates the 2018 title victory – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
However, the disappointing WorldSBK wildcard in 2018 is something that Herfoss is determined to redress, and he says all the elements are in place to make that happen.
“The whole team have put in a lot of effort to build a bike that’s capable of running a lot further up the field,” said Herfoss, who competed in the recent RoadNats cycling titles alongside his partner, Emily.
Penrite Honda – 2018 ASBK Superbike Champions – Image TBG
“We know we are going to be competitive with a more complete package and a wealth of knowledge that we gained last year. If I can get the bike fully up to speed I want to be in that 8-12 group pace – and who knows what can happen after that once tyre life and all those variables come into play.”
Troy Herfoss – Image by Colin Rosewarne
Herfoss is particularly looking forward to the new WorldSBK ‘triple treat’ formula, which will make its debut at Phillip Island with a 10-lap sprint race at midday on Sunday, sandwiched between the traditional pair of 22-lappers at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
“The sprint race is a similar distance to the ASBK races, so it’s something that I’m used to,” said Herfoss. “It’s a great concept and is certainly going to make for a hot pace – it’s going to be interesting to see how it all pans out.”
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
The opening round of the 2019 ASBK title will also be held alongside the WorldSBK round, but Herfoss is unfazed by the double duties. He said: “I enjoy racing the world championship and ASBK class at Phillip Island, and I deal well with the physical and mental pressures. It really helps me get into a groove.”
Troy Herfoss – TBG Image
In total, 13 races will be held at Phillip Island across Saturday and Sunday, with supersport and production 300 the other two national classes supporting the world championship categories: WorldSBK and WorldSSP.
Goulburn teenager Tom Toparis is the Aussie wildcard in WorldSSP – and just like Herfoss is backing up from 2018. Toparis was 15th in last year’s WorldSSP race on a Kawasaki, but will be riding a Yamaha in 2019.
Tickets now on sale
A three-day general admission for the WorldSBK round is $120* secured in advance, and includes FREE Paddock Access. Add four nights camping to your purchase and the total cost, including event entry and Paddock, is $230* .
If you feel like splashing out, step up to a Bar SBK ticket at $265* (with camping $375*) and enjoy undercover facilities at Doohan Corner, Siberia and Lukey Heights.
World superbikes is free for kids 15 and under, and so is your bike. For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
***Team launch coming soon!*** Here’s a look at last year’s team launch video! Can you imagine what it’s like to ride for @KRT_WorldSBK?
Unveiling of the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR KRT 2018 for the WorldSBK Championship. #NinjaSpirit “Racing. A world where you come to achieve dreams and defend… Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Final European shakedown before WSBK hits Australia
Images by 2snap/GeeBee
Portimao hosted the final two-day European pre-season test ahead of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship season getting underway in Australia over the weekend of February 22-24 at Phillip Island.
The new race format being introduced for 2019, that adds a 10-lap Sunday morning sprint race to the weekend schedule, saw riders get to test a new Pirelli SCX rear tyre at Portimao this week.
Some riders also slotted in a qualifying tyre for their outright time attack style lap and on Q rubber Jonathan Rea set a 1m40.885 to street the field. Rea also fell on his last lap of the day but was uninjured in the tumble.
Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea
“It has been a super-positive test. We came from the Jerez and I was still understanding the bike and the asphalt there. It made it difficult to understand the work we had done over the winter. But coming here we had quite a neutral platform to work with and a lot of data. Although the temperatures did not get into a perfect operating window it gave us a consistent effort over two days. We confirmed the chassis items we tested at Jerez, and electronically we worked a bit better. We started to work on our race performance. I was really happy with how I felt with a lot of laps on the tyre compared to last this time last year. I got to try a qualifier at the end of the day and that felt quite good and I was really fast with it. This test ticked every box, just a couple of little items we could have re-checked and gone over. But the priorities were done and we got to try some new Pirelli tyres as well.”
Jonathan Rea
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea
“I am really happy because we have been improving since yesterday morning. Here we confirmed some items that were on the list, mainly with the balance of the chassis. The new engine has a small difference in the character on corner entry or corner exit, and the revs are different, which also changes the character a bit. This also affects the chassis and we tried to put it all together. Honestly speaking we made a step forward and Johnny was flying. On the race tyres we made a lot of laps and after many laps it was we were still doing very strong times. The tyre wear was good and overall everything was very good.”
Jonathan Rea and Crew Chief Pere Riba
Haslam’s best lap of the test was also set on a qualifying tyre but the Briton was halted on his final attempt for a time by a red flag incident on track. Haslam’s 1m42.144 best lap on Q rubber only a tenth quicker than he had managed on race tyres.
Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam
“A good test for us and we made a step with the lap time. I made a 1’42.2 with a race tyre, which I was really happy with. I did not get any benefit from using the soft tyre mainly because with the first chance to go faster there was a red flag and for the second one I got rained on. I never really got a chance to go for one lap again. That was a little bit frustrating but on the race tyre times I was really happy. I made some good steps and tried a few things, including a different front tyre for the first time, which I felt was a bit better. We only had one of them so I could not put it toward an even better lap time. But I was consistently in the 1’42s, so I am pretty happy with things.”
Leon Haslam
Taking the fight to Rea and the green machines, Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) continued his recent impressive pace and he closed the test second fastest.
Alex Lowes
“It’s been a really positive test for me here in Portimão, a track at which I’ve struggled a little previously on the Yamaha. During this test we’ve found some strong, consistent pace and my fastest lap came on the sprint race tyre as I ran into traffic on the qualifier, so I know there’s more to come. But it’s not the one-off fast lap time that’s important. What’s made me happy is the fact that I posted a lot of fast and consistent laps on every run, we managed to complete the whole test program and we’re now in a good position ahead of the test and race in Phillip Island. We’ve had a really strong winter, put the hard work in, made no mistakes and, hopefully, we can reap the reward with a strong start to the season in Phillip Island next month.”
Alex Lowes
Together with his teammate Michael van der Mark, who finished fifth, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders worked on evaluating new parts.
Michael van der Mark
“It’s been quite a difficult test for me here in Portimão. We struggled to find the right feeling with the bike on the first day, despite trying many things in the search for improvement. On the second day we started again, making some big changes on the bike and, immediately, I felt so much more comfortable. It was also difficult with the weather today, as it was quite cold with a lot of wind. We worked really hard to try many things, but there are still a couple of areas where I am missing a bit, so there is still some work to do. This is where we need to focus our efforts ahead of the next test in Phillip Island, an amazing track where I really enjoy riding. I’m confident we can make another step forward there and that we’ll be ready for the first race of the season.”
Michael van der Mark
In the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati garage Chaz Davies and Alvaro Bautista were able to make consistent progress working on the base setup of the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Testing different tyres and many aspects of his new bike, Alvaro Bautista set a fastest lap time of 1’41.934, taking the third spot of the timesheets. This was promising for both Bautista and the new V4R, as the Spaniard has little experience at Portimao compared to most of his competitors.
Álvaro Bautista
“For me these days testing at Portimão have been positive. Yesterday was a bit more difficult than today because it was my first time ever here at Portimão, a very difficult circuit to learn and full of ups and downs, so I struggled a bit, but today I felt a lot better on the bike and managed to improve. It’s the last time we test the V4 R before leaving for Australia, so I wanted to do as many laps as possible to get to know the bike better. We are confident because we’ve found a good base even though we know there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Álvaro Bautista
Team-mate Chaz Davies was still struggling with back pain from a crash earlier in the month but the Welshman managed 42 laps on the V4 R on Monday.
Chaz Davies
“It’s been a couple of testing days in more ways than one! Physically I’m not really recovered from the twinge in the back I picked up in the Jerez test, so it hasn’t been the most comfortable time for me. On the flip side I’m very happy to have finished the test because I didn’t think it was going to be possible, but I did some good physio between the tests that allowed me to lap. Portimão is really important because it’s another track where we need to find a good base set-up for the V4 R, while I try and get fully acquainted with the bike. We’re not there yet and we’ll keep on working but I’m confident and looking forward to getting to Phillip Island for the opening round.”
Chaz Davies
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider Tom Sykes was sixth quickest on the all new BMW S 1000 RR. The British rider somewhat surprised by how close they were considering they are still in their development phase.
Tom Sykes
Team-mate Markus Reiterberger worked on the geometry of the bike and tyre testing to finish tenth overall.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – Markus Reiterberger
Continuing to adapt to the WorldSBK bike, 2018 WorldSSP World Champion Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) set the seventh fastest lap time.
Sandro Cortese
“Overall this was a very productive test. Portimão is a new track for me with the Yamaha YZF-R1 and we started more or less from zero here. We came with the base set up from Jerez, where we were quite happy, but we had to adapt the bike a lot for Portimão, which is a very special circuit with the changes in elevation. So the first job was to learn the circuit on this bike and only then could we start work on refining the set up. Over the two days we made some big improvements and, day by day, I learnt more about the riding style that these bikes require. It’s a learning process but it is progressing well and we ended with a relatively good feeling. I know what I need to work on over the next two weeks and the team have a clear direction in which to work also ahead of the third and final test in Phillip Island.”
Sandro Cortese
Teammate Marco Melandri was eighth overall and not happy with his progress.
Marco Melandri
“This was a very difficult test for me. I came here expecting a little bit more, but it looks like we’re going around the real problem, unable to find a solution. For me it’s very difficult at the moment to brake how I want; the bike doesn’t respond well to my riding style under braking and on entry to the corner. We tried everything we could here in Portimão, but it looks like it’s not enough. Now we need to try some different options in Phillip Island, go a different way with the set up, in order to find a solution ahead of the first race of the season.”
Marco Melandri
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) had a strong pace on both days as he finished in ninth position. The Turkish rider worked on improving his feeling on board the Kawasaki ZX-10RR that will only be updated into the 2019 version at Phillip Island. Working also alongside a new crew chief, it was a positive two-day test for the young rider and his team.
Toprak Razgatlioglu
Independent team riders Michael Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) and Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven), both worked on the development of their Ducati Panigale V4 R. The Italian rider closed in twelfth position, while Laverty was thirteenth.
Michael Rinaldi
Developing the new Honda CBR1000RR, 2019 WorldSBK rookie Alessandro Delbianco finished fourteenth after two days trying to get acquainted with the WorldSBK machine. The official Honda backed squad were again missing in action…
Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) set the fastest lap time among the WorldSSP riders who were also out testing in Portugal. The Frenchman closed 0.573 secs ahead of the MV Agusta F3 675 of Italian rider Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse) and 0.879 ahead of Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
The next track sessions for most competitors will be during the official organisers’ tests at Phillip Island in Australia ,on Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th of February, shortly before the first round of the championship at Phillip Island on the weekend of February 22-24.
WorldSBK Portimao Test Day Two Unofficial Times
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing WorldSBK Team) 1’40.855
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’41.814 +0.959
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’41.934 +1.079
Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing WorldSBK Team) 1’42.144 +1.289
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’42.191 +1.336
Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’42.246 +1.391
Overnight Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger lifted the covers on the brand new BMW S 1000 RR machines that they will campaign in the 2019 WorldSBK Championship.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
With swathes of red and blue running through the matte white finish machine it has been designed along the lines of traditional BMW M Motorsports liveries.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Sykes and Reiterberger also tested alongside their WorldSBK combatants at Portimao yesterday with Sykes finishing sixth fastest, 1.391-seconds behind the WSBK benchmark set at the test by Jonathan Rea on qualifying tyres.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
Sykes was surprised by how close they were with the new bike, considering they are still in their development phase.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – Tom Sykes
Markus Reiterberger, who worked on the geometry of the bike and on testing different tyres, and finished tenth overall.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team – Markus Reiterberger
After their sixth day on track with the new BMW S1000RR, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team next head to Australia for further tests ahead of the WorldSBK Championship season opener at Phillip Island on the weekend of February 24.
It has been a super-positive test. We came from Jerez and I was still understanding the bike and the asphalt there. It made it difficult to understand the work we had done over the winter. But coming here we had quite a neutral platform to work with and a lot of data. Although the temperatures did not get into a perfect operating window it gave us a consistent effort over two days. We confirmed the chassis items we tested at Jerez, and electronically we worked a bit better. We started to work on our race performance. I was really happy with how I felt with a lot of laps on the tyre compared to last this time last year. I got to try a qualifier at the end of the day and that felt quite good and I was really fast with it. This test ticked every box, just a couple of little items we could have re-checked and gone over. But the priorities were done and we got to try some new Pirelli tyres as well.
That was positive, very positive. I felt much better on the bike today and we found some good tyre consumption results. Yesterday the track was really green and I struggled a bit with that. Pirelli have brought some different tyres that we had to put in the plan today. Aside from that we just kept working with the chassis set-up and we found some big improvements. We are continuing to work with electronics but we are not doing too much fine tuning. We played around with wheelbase length a little bit. We had a clear direction in the last winter test and I preferred the bike a certain way. Here I just sacrificed a little bit of turning-in performance and that is what we tried to look for today, to make the bike a bit a little bit more manageable. I enjoyed today and started to ride with a smile on my face. Finding good improvements throughout the day kept motivation high and the track was in much better shape. I felt like over one lap, and in terms of consistent pace, we are in a really good place. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/rea-sets-pace-jerez-test
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