Tom Toparis is not the only rider who will be flying the flag for Goulburn as a wildcard rider at the opening round of next months Yamaha Finance round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Former Goulburn resident, Troy Herfoss will line up on the World Superbike grid as a wildcard as well.
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The 30-year-old, who now resides in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast will make his debut race start in the FIM World Superbike Championship, which is something which he has been striving for.
“Everyone within the team is really excited about the possibilities ahead,” said Herfoss in an official press release via Motorcycling Australia.
“Hopefully we can be somewhere in the mix for a positive result,” added the Honda mounted rider.
Herfoss knows the World Superbike Championship is full of world class riders, but he says that it will be a great opportunity to show what he and his team are capable of.
Joining Herfoss for the two 22-lap World Superbike races, with race one being held on Saturday and race two on Sunday will also be Yamaha Racing Team’s Wayne Maxwell and new recruited rider for the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship, Daniel Falzon.
Just like Herfoss, both Maxwell and Falzon will make their World Superbike Championship debut.
“The opportunity to represent Yamaha Racing Team amongst the World Superbike field is a great boost for us,” said Maxwell, who has raced as a wildcard rider before, but in the World Moto2 Championship at the 2010 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
“The team have always wanted to become involved in the World SBK and now that opportunity has become a reality.”
The 35-year-old explained that his Yamaha YZF-R1M should be pretty similar to the ASBK spec with minor alterations to make it fit for World Superbike Championship completion.
If it’s one advantage that Maxwell and his 23-year-old South Australian teammate have, it’s the fact that they both know the 4.445km seaside circuit very well. Maxwell has expressed that a top fifteen or higher result is not out of the question.
“I cannot thank Yamaha Racing Team enough for the opportunity. I’ve been training hard over the off-season and hopefully we can secure a positive result at Phillip Island in both WorldSBK and ASBK,” concluded Maxwell.
Falzon also admitted his excitement for the upcoming wildcard ride by saying via social media;
“I'm excited for the opportunity, obviously we need to be realistic and not be expecting any fantastic results given we are competing on ASBK specification R1M's. The experience and exposure gained from competing with some of the best riders in the world will be invaluable.”
While the 2012 Australian Superstock 600 and 2013-14 Australian Supersport champion is excited about the wildcard, he has admitted that a good result in the opening round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) will remain his priority.
Herfoss and the two factory Yamaha riders will also race in the opening round of the ASBK series, which runs in conjunction with the curtain raiser round of the FIM World Superbike Championship.
For information regarding tickets for this year’s Yamaha Finance round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, head to www.worldsbk.com.au or contact the Phillip Island circuit on (03) 5952 2710.