After a pretty tough few days which saw the seventeen-year-old coming off his Cube Racing Kalex KTM a few times in somewhat tricky, Toparis, who started from thirty-first position on the grid stayed up right during the race and also finished on the lead lap, which was a positive outcome for the young gun.  

“The Cube Racing team told me before the race to pretty much finish the race and if finished on the lead lap, then that would be even better,” said Toparis after the thirteen lap race, which got reduced from twenty laps after an oil spill in the Moto3 warm up which was caused by SKY Racing Team VR46’s Andrea Migno.

In regards to the race, Toparis made no secret that it was the hardest conditions that he has raced in because not only was the spray hard to see through, but because of the oil spill in the warm up which made the surface so slippery.

“I had no feeling at all throughout the whole race,” explained Toparis.

“The main thing is we managed to keep the bike upright and finished the race, which is a nice way to repay the team back after a rather testing outing.

We’ll now be able to go out on track in free practice one next Friday at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and have a bit of a play.”

It a no brainer that Toparis is praying for dry weather at the ‘Island' next weekend for the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Toparis has explained that if it rains, he might have a hard time like this weekend in Japan and won't have as much fun.

“I simply just want dry time on this bike as I can’t seem to get it together on this bike in the wet. I want to gain experience and hopefully be closer to the field. I know I can ride fast at the island, and hopefully the bike will be up to it,” said Toparis who posted his best lap time on lap nine with a 2min24.451.

Aside from the minor hiccups during the course of the weekend it has been a good experience for Toparis and his team, as they have learnt a lot. In saying that, they could have learnt more, if it was dry conditions, but they have learnt what they have and will now turn their attention to the Australian round of the MotoGP™.  

When asked if Toparis is feeling a bit more confident heading into round sixteen of the World Moto3™ Championship, he replied with; “I am feeling a bit more confident heading into Phillip Island next weekend, as it now feels a bit more ‘normal’ now being out on track with these other riders. At the start of the weekend I was getting passed by riders such as Romano Fenati or Nicolò Bulega    and going “wow”…

I just hope it will be dry weather, as that will make me a lot happier.”

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone in the team for helping me this weekend. Everyone has just been happy to be here. It’s so hard to do a Moto3 wildcard ride. But that’s the reason why it’s the toughest championship in the world.”

Toparis and his crew fly out of Japan tonight, while it won’t be until Wednesday till he gets back down south to Phillip Island.

For more information regarding tickets for next weekend’s Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, head to www.motogp.com.au or contact the Australian Grand Prix Corporation on (03) 9258 7100.