News 12 Aug 2010

Privateer Profile: Cru Halliday

MotoOnline.com.au meets one of the next big things in Australian road racing, Cru Halliday.

Cru Halliday is one of the brightest talents in Australian road racing in 2010.

Cru Halliday is one of the brightest talents in Australian road racing in 2010. Image: Keith Muir.

Rider:
Cru Halliday

Date of Birth:
2 June 1988

Website:
www.halliday65.com

Bike:
Yamaha YZF-R1

Team Sponsors:
Kirk McCarthy Award, YRD, GYTR, Bowral Motorcycles, Pope Building Services, Berik Leathers, Shark Helmets, Belray Oils, Carbon Imports, bike-photos.com, G.M.D Computrack, Whites Racing Products, Go Boating, Xsportz.com.au and Pit Stop Motorcycles.

Career Highlights:

  • Winning 2009 Australian FX Superstock 600 title
  • Placing 3rd in 2009 Australian Superstock 600 Championship
  • Receiving the 2009 Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award
  • Winning 2010 Eastern Creek FX1000 FX Nationals round

Goals for 2010:
Win the Australian Superstock 1000 C and D Championship

Profile:
Former Australian Supermoto Champion Cru Halliday has proven a revelation in road racing since switching fulltime to the blacktop in 2009, confirming himself as one to watch when it comes to talented youngsters working their way through the ranks.

Halliday took a solid third in the Australian Superstock 600 Championship on debut and also claimed the title in the Formula Xtreme Superstock series, however it’s been the 2010 season where he has really make his mark.

The 22-year-old is set to wrap up the Australian Superstock 1000 C and D Championship after enjoying the perfect season to date in his first year on the Yamaha YZF-R1.

Add in the domination of Saturday’s FX1000 round of the FX Nationals against the likes of former multiple-time national champion and World Supersport number two Kevin Curtain, and it’s easy to see that the future is bright for Halliday.

“My goal in the long run is to go overseas and race AMA Superbike or British Superbike like Josh Brookes,” Halliday commented. “I’ve always wanted to race overseas, and watching friends like Aaron Gobert over there in America in the past really makes me want to go and try follow in their footsteps overseas.”

Halliday got into road racing after working his way from BMX to motocross, then switching to Supermoto with great success, before ultimately reaching his goal of becoming a road racer.

“I sort of got into it by riding a 50 motard bike with friends, then it progressed to supermoto itself on a 250F,” he explained. “I then did some time on the 450 before going to the road bike, where I went straight onto a 600 Superstock bike.

“I had a road race style when I rode motard, so it wasn’t too difficult in adapting to the road bike once I did get the 600. It’s been a pretty good transition and I’ve had a lot of help and advice, which has really been an advantage to learn quickly.”

This year has seen Halliday compete as a privateer with support from Yamaha and YRD, also taking full advantage of the Kirk McCarthy Award that he says has helped out in a big way during 2010.

“YRD are supporting me this year and so are the supporters of the Kirk McCarthy Award – if it wasn’t for those two things then I don’t think I’d be where I am at the moment,” he said. “I can’t say enough about Yamaha, they’ve been terrific this year, so we will just see what happens for 2011 and go from there.”

With riders like Halliday cutting their teeth in the development categories of Australian road racing, it’s safe to say that the future looks bright in the country that’s recognised for churning out world class racers.

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