Victorian Ryan Taylor has been granted a wildcard entry to the World Supersport round at Phillip Island next month.
The 26-year-old Taylor receives his chance at the top Supersport level at the renowned Victorian circuit co-inciding with the opening round of the World Superbike Championship from February 21-23.
Taylor was fourth in the Australian Supersport Championship last year and has twice won the Victorian Supersport championships in 2012 and 2013.
“I’m super excited to line-up on the grid at the island. To be able to go and mix it up with the world’s best on a track I know so well is going to be the biggest buzz,” Taylor said.
“I know it’s not going to be an easy task, but I will give it a red hot go that’s for sure.”
Taylor will campaign a Yamaha R6 with suspension technician Stewart Winton (SW Racing) forming a squad called Oz Wildcard Racing.
“For now we are focused on running a wildcard for Ryan,” Winton said.
“But we’re also building a team for the future, so we can help out younger riders compete as a wildcard and show their talent on a world stage.
“Australia has always produced great riders in World Superbikes and World Supersport such as Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Andrew Pitt and Chris Vermeulen.”
Taylor’s previous international experience includes the Superstock 600 European Championship with the Lightspeed Kawasaki team in 2007.