2017 Australian Supersport 300 field full of promise

The Hi-Tec Batteries Australian Supersport 300 class riders battled the heat during Round 4 of the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) over a week ago. With near capacity grids, we take a quick look at the rising stars in the ever popular class.

The Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 class is arguably one of the most exciting and thrilling of ASBK. With handlebar-to-handlebar racing and strong manufacturer support, it’s a great stepping stone to the higher capacity classes being the Motul Supersport class (600cc – 700cc) and the apex of road racing in the country; Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbike class (1000cc-1300cc). The 300cc class is truly a showcase and breeding ground for the Aussie stars of tomorrow.

Troy Bayliss holds Oli Bayliss’s lap board

Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki EX 300), son of three time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, is making a name for himself in his own right in the 2017 ASBK. This is Oli’s first full year in road racing and with his father’s guidance, the 13-year-old has chosen the Supersport 300 category to hone his racing skills and learn his family craft.

Bayliss was ecstatic to take a win in the ‘Up to 300’ class knowing he was not far off the pace of the outright Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 winner for the combined ‘Up to’ and ‘Over’ categories. He took a pole position and three race victories for his ‘Up To’ category at Round 4 in Darwin.

“I’m really happy to get three out of three wins for my class,” Bayliss commented. “All that matters are the points for the championship. The team has done really well, so I just want to say a massive thanks to all of the guys and it should be good for when we head to Morgan Park next month, that’s for sure.”

Oli Bayliss and Tom Edwards at Hidden Valley – Image by TBG Photography

It’s not just Bayliss who is turning heads in the combined Hi-Tec Supersport 300 races. Within striking distance of each other, are the extremely accomplished Tom Edwards (Alpinestars, Yamaha YZF-R3), Reid Battye (DB Racing Kawasaki EX 300), Jack Mahaffy (JDS Moto, Yamaha YZF-R3), Yanni Shaw (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki EX 300), Laura Brown (Draggin Jeans, Kawasaki EX 300), Tom Bramich (Ron Angel, Yamaha YZF- R3), Billy Van Eerde (Chris Watson Motorcycles, KTM RC-390) Drew Sells (Race Centre, Kawasaki EX 300), Gregory Farrell (BCperformance, Kawasaki EX 300), and Shelby Turner (Pro Cycle Dyno, Kawasaki EX 300), who have all caused quite a stir this season with impressive racing craft and incredible feats both domestically and in overseas competition. The future is certainly bright for Australian road race, with these riders waiting in the wings.