FULL SPEED TO WORLD CLASS
Sunday Profile
Tom Toparis

This Goulburn schoolboy is on the fast-track to becoming our next global motorsport star, writes James Phelps

Fixing smart-phone screens in his bedroom for $50 a pop could become a thing of the past for Tom Toparis after the Goulburn High School student scored a shock wildcard entry to race in Moto3.
Just 20 months after beginning his motorcycle road-racing career, the 17-year-old is in the fast lane to becoming our next Casey Stoner and will compete against some of the world’s best riders in next month’s Japanese and Australian rounds of the world tour.
“It is all just so exciting,” Toparis said.
“This has all come about really fast. The opportunity came up and of course I am going to take it.
“It is my dream to race at the premier level and I would love to make a career out of it.”

The son of a mechanic jumped on a 300cc bike dreaming of becoming an Australian Superbikes champion like his hero Troy Herfoss.
With his big chance in Moto3, Toparis, who is mentored by three-time superbike champion Troy Bayliss, will be racing in curtain-raisers for MotoGP global superstars such as Valentino Rossi and Jack Miller.
“Last year was my first time on a road bike,” Toparis said.
“We decided to go racing at the start of 2016.
“We entered in the production class on a Ninja 300 and I ended up winning a few races. We decided to speed it up and I jumped on a 600. As it turns out I have won two races and been up the front.
“I have been riding dirt bikes since I was four and was actually another guy from Goulburn that inspired me to take up road racing. Troy Herfoss is a hero of mine and watching what he has done motivated me to go for it. I aspire to be like him and he’s both a role model and mentor.
“I am lucky enough to have him in my corner. He’s the reason why I am road racing.”

As racing career could cost Toparis his bedroom business of fixing phones for friends on weekends and after school.
“It has taken a bit of a back seat lately,” Toparis said.
“But I started it because I am always away racing and no-body would give me a part time job.
“I needed to make a bit of money so I started fixing phone screens in my bedroom.”

Toparis will take leave from his Year 11 studies at Trinity Catholic School in Goulburn to compete in Japan on the weekends of October 13–15 and at Phillip Island on October 20–22.
“It gets a bit tough keeping up with the school work but of course the bike comes first,” Toparis said.
“It is exciting for me and my mates and they are all behind me.
“My family and friends are really excited and a lot of them will come to Phillip Island to watch.”

Toparis will join fellow Australians Jack Miller (MotoGP) and Remy Gardner (Moto2) at the two rounds of the international championship.