Oli Bayliss has secured a Phillip Island WorldSSP wildcard at the upcoming WorldSBK opener.

The 16-year-old Queenslander, who this week set some solid times at the Island during the Official mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship test aboard his Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, is sure to have a plethora of Australians backing him as he takes on the world’s best.

Bayliss – son of triple WorldSBK Champion and MotoGP rider Troy – will receive an upgraded engine to use for the WorldSSP test which will take place a few days before the main event as well as also riding in domestic duties.

“I’m really excited and grateful to have this opportunity to race at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the World Supersport Championship for the first round as a Wild Card rider,” said Bayliss.

“It’s going to be really tough with how fast those guys have been going over the years, and it’s going to be a great opportunity to ride with some of the fastest guys in the world and see how I can place amongst them.

I will be doing double duties so it’s going to be a big weekend and a bit of a challenge, I’m going to be training very hard coming up to that round to stay fit.

“When Dad was racing with World Superbikes I grew up around a lot of the mechanics, who are still around in the paddock now, they might help me a little bit, but the main thing is going out there and giving it my all.

“The difference between my ASBK bike and World Supersport bike is around 10 and 15 horsepower, it’s not much, but enough to go a second or two a lap quicker.

“Before World Supers I’ll be doing the official test, which will be fun seeing how fast they can go around this track.”