Edwards Impresses in Australian Superbike Debut at Phillip Island
23 year-old Tom Edwards made a strong first impression in his Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) debut at Phillip Island over the weekend, coming away with valuable points in a whirlwind opening round.
It was a race against time to get Edwards on the grid, with MotoSchool Australia securing a last-minute entry into the championship. The team only picked up the Yamaha YZF R1 a week prior, transforming it into a race-ready machine in record time. Despite the short preparation, Edwards and the team pulled off an impressive performance.
A Weekend of Progress and Determination
Starting from P10 on the grid, In Race 1, he showed his competitive edge, fighting through the field to claim an impressive 9th place finish, a remarkable result for his first-ever Superbike race at Phillip Island.
Race 2 on Saturday presented new challenges. A lightning-fast start saw Edwards jump to 7th position on the opening lap, but a setup issue with the bike forced him to drop back through the field. Despite the setback, he salvaged 14th place, demonstrating resilience in tough conditions.
The final race of the weekend delivered even more drama. Edwards made another phenomenal start, but in the early laps, contact from another rider pushed him wide and straight into a third competitor, ending that rider’s race. Miraculously, Edwards managed to stay upright, but the incident sent him to the back of the pack. Refusing to give up, he put in a determined fightback to secure another top-10 finish, ultimately placing 10th overall for the weekend.
Edwards Reflects on His Debut
Speaking after the race, Edwards was pleased with his Superbike debut:
“Overall, I’m really happy with my debut weekend on a Superbike. The MotoSchool team and I worked incredibly hard in a short timeframe to get a bike ready to race here, and considering we didn’t have a single test, I think we had a really strong weekend.”
“I’m impressed with how the team progressed, and to come away with a top-10 finish is a great start. I know we’re only showing the tip of the iceberg in terms of our potential. We’ve got so much more to give. I’m really looking forward to our home round in Sydney in a few weeks to prove what we’re capable of.”
“A huge thank you to my team for their efforts this weekend, to my sponsors for their continued support, and to all my friends and family who came down to the Island to support me.”
Looking Ahead
With a solid foundation laid in Phillip Island, Edwards now sets his sights on Sydney Motorsport Park, where he will be aiming to build on this momentum at his home round. If his debut is anything to go by, there’s plenty more to come from Edwards and the MotoSchool team as they continue to unlock their full potential in the ASBK championship.
Next Round: Night Races 28 - 29 March at Sydney Motorsport Park
