Toparis wins Supersport opener as title fights tighten

Round Three – The Bend

Kawasaki Supersport Race One

Conditions were fine, cool and breezy at The Bend on Sunday morning as a 13-rider field formed up for the opening nine-lap Kawasaki Supersport / Next Gen contest of ASBK round three.

The wind was a clear factor down the one-kilometre front straight, and while the track was dry, the pace across the field suggested conditions were still some way short of ideal. The leading laps were in the mid-1m55s to 1m56s, around two seconds away from the current race lap records for both Supersport and Next Gen machinery.

The four Next Gen machines filled the first four spots on the grid, with Valentino Knezovic the highest-placed traditional Supersport rider in fifth on his YZF-R6.

Pole-sitter Olly Simpson led Tom Toparis through turn one, but the DesmoSport Ducati rider lost the front at turn two only seconds into the race. That left Toparis with clear air, and the Goulburn rider took full advantage.

Olly Simpson’s Race One lasted only two corners after the DesmoSport Ducati rider lost the front at turn two

Toparis was 1.2 seconds clear by the end of the opening lap, with Tom Edwards initially leading the chase ahead of Jake Farnsworth, Hayden Nelson and Knezovic.

Valentino Knezovic and Jake Farnsworth battled for traditional Supersport honours behind the Next Gen leaders

Farnsworth and Knezovic were soon on the move. Farnsworth displaced Nelson on lap two before taking over third on lap three, while Knezovic also worked his way past Nelson and then Farnsworth as the fight for the minor placings started to tighten.

Tom Edwards and Jake Farnsworth were part of the tight fight for the minor placings in Race One

Toparis was two seconds clear by lap three, but Farnsworth briefly became the fastest rider on track with a 1m55.970 on that same lap, the first rider to dip into the 1m55s. Behind Toparis, the battle for second gradually became a four-rider scrap between Edwards, Farnsworth, Knezovic and Nelson.

Tom Toparis opened a useful early margin and managed the gap to the flag

By two-thirds race distance, Knezovic had moved into second and began to edge clear of the group. He then lowered the fastest lap benchmark to 1m55.641 on lap seven, which would stand as the fastest lap of the race.

Valentino Knezovic eventually broke clear of Jake Farnsworth and took maximum traditional Supersport points

That burst came too late to trouble Toparis, however. The Stop & Seal Ducati rider had managed the gap well out front, reeling off a string of low-to-mid 1m56s before backing off slightly on the final lap to take the win by 1.084 seconds.

Tom Toparis maintained a measured pace out front before easing off on the final lap

Knezovic crossed the line second and took maximum points among the traditional Supersport runners, while Hayden Nelson won a late battle with BC Performance Kawasaki team-mate Tom Edwards to complete the outright podium. Nelson’s final lap was his best of the race, a 1m56.040, and it was enough to beat Edwards to the line by just 0.117 seconds.

Valentino Knezovic celebrates after moving into the traditional Supersport Championship lead

Edwards finished fourth outright and second among the Next Gen runners, with Farnsworth fading to fifth after being in the podium fight for much of the race. Jordy Simpson was sixth, ahead of Josh Soderland, Ghage Plowman, Flynn Jacobs and Ethan Johnson.

Next Gen Race One podium: Hayden Nelson, Tom Toparis and Tom Edwards at The Bend

Lucas Warren and Sam Pezzetta were both non-finishers, while Olly Simpson’s race was over at turn two on the opening lap.

Knezovic’s second place moved him into the lead of the traditional Supersport Championship on 119 points, three clear of Farnsworth on 116, with Soderland third on 91. In the Next Gen Championship, Edwards continues to lead, but Nelson has closed to within a single point, 122 to 121, after beating his team-mate to the final podium position.

Jake Farnsworth topped the traditional Supersport podium after finishing fifth outright

Images by RbMotoLens

Kawasaki Supersport Race One Results

2026 ASBK Calendar

2026 ASBK PROVISIONAL CALENDAR
Round One	February 20-22	Phillip Island, VIC (WorldSBK)
Round Two	March 27-28	Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW
Round Three	May 1-3	The Bend, SA
Round Four	May 29-31	Morgan Park, QLD
Round Five	June 26-28	Queensland Raceway, QLD