Tom Toparis headed for Europe and Supersport World Championship

On Thursday, January 16, the Superbike World Championships announced that Toparis will compete in the World Supersport division under the Benro Racing Team banner in 2020.

This will not be Toparis's first experience in the World Supersport, as he has already had several wildcard entries, the latest of which was at Phillip Island last year.

In 2020, Toparis will only compete in the European rounds, where he said his past experience will prove crucial.

"I've done a couple of wildcard races in this championship before, maybe four or five now," he said.

"A couple overseas and then obviously at Phillip Island, so I know what to expect."

The decision to compete solely in the European rounds, which make up ten of the 13 rounds in the World Championship, was a matter of finances, Toparis said.

"For the team to pack our bikes in a few cases and fly away to another country, the budget just isn't there," he said.

"If the team were to do those three races, I think it nearly doubles the budget for the whole season."

Without participating in the rounds outside Europe, which take place in Qatar, Australia, and Argentina, Toparis will aim for the European Championship.

This, Toparis said, was like "a championship within a championship", and is open to riders who, like Toparis, elect to take part only in the European rounds.

Though he is full of confidence after a stunning run in the Australian Supersport Championship, which saw Toparis win 15 of 16 races, he knows the World Championship will be a massive step up.

"It's kind of insane how many good riders have lined up this year, because there's probably 20 good riders who have come from the MotoGP championship," he said.

"Obviously the beginning of the season is going to be quite tough because [the first round is] in Spain and I haven't ridden in Spain at all."

As it will be his first full year in the championship, Toparis is careful to moderate is expectations and remain grateful for this opportunity.

"Hopefully I can be in the top ten, if I can be in the top ten it'd be like getting a win," he said.

"Obviously last year was really good, when I look back and think I won 15 of 16 races, I don't know if I could do that again.

"I had to make the next step, it's great and I'm very lucky to get to go to the World Championship."

Though he is "a little bit nervous" about leaving his family and living in Europe for a year, Toparis is committed to learning as much from the experience as he can.

"It's a case of learning regardless of where I end up, [because] I'm going to be a better rider on the other side," he said.

"When you're riding with the best in the world, you'll learn without even trying."

During his time in Europe, Toparis will live in Venlo, in the Netherlands, a city of roughly 100,000 located about two hours south of Amsterdam.

As he prepares for his departure in early March, Toparis thanked his family, his hosts in the Netherlands, and his sponsors.

"Without them, it's not possible at all," he said.

"I'm super lucky to have this chance and hopefully luck stays on my side so I can get a result."

The Supersport World Championship will get underway on February 28 with the Australian round at Phillip Island. Toparis will get his season started on March 27, with the Spanish round in Andalusia.

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