What a year it's been for Tom Toparis, and it's only just reached the halfway point.
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Ahead of this weekend's round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), Toparis still leads the race with 198 points, a lead of 41 over his next closest competitor, Nic Liminton, on 157.
On top of his domestic dominance, Toparis is also currently second in the IDM Supersport Championship, which is the premier motorcycle competition in Germany and draws riders from all over Europe.
The 19-year-old's double commitment has seen him spend an unprecedented amount of time on the bike, which he believes will hold him in good stead ahead of this weekend's competition at Morgan Park in Queensland.
"I've spent a lot of time on the bike, which is really good," Toparis said. "I haven't actually ridden the Aussie bikes since the last race at Adelaide [in the third round of the ASBK], but it's basically identical to the bike that I've been riding overseas.
"The only thing different is the track, and me having to learn four or five tracks [in Europe] in such a short period of time is going to be very good for my experience."
While his current points tally in the ASBK is imposing, Toparis said that he has a further goal in mind.
"I need to stretch [my lead] out as much as I can, just to give myself as much room as I possibly can," he said.
"[That's] what happened to me last year. I was racing against Cru Halliday, and every race he just stretched out a little bit and a little bit and a little bit, and then at the end of the season it ends up being so much that he ended up winning with a round to go, and that's what I aim to do."
The track at Morgan Park, Toparis said, is very different from the one in Adelaide, and he knows that consistency will be the key to retaining his current lead.
"It's a lot different to the last track we were at," he said.
"For me, I just need to keep focused [with] two solid races. Let's hope the weather's alright, for one, but I think regardless I'm pretty comfortable on the bike and I can't wait to get up there."
The fourth round of the ASBK will take place at Morgan Park over July 5-7.
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