News 8 Feb 2013

Parkes and Halliday at Yamaha Racing with Yamalube team

Broc Parkes will join forces with Cru Halliday to form the Yamaha Racing with Yamalube team.

Broc Parkes will return to Australia for the 2013 season.

Broc Parkes will return to Australia for the 2013 season.

World class road racer Broc Parkes will join forces with multi-time Australian champion Cru Halliday to form the Yamaha Racing with Yamalube road racing team for season 2013.

Parkes returns to Australia after a long stint racing in Europe where he competed in the World Supersport Championship. He was a regular finisher inside the top 10 of all categories he contested while in Europe, highlighted by finishing second in the 2004 and 2007 World Supersport Championships.

He also raced in the World Superbike Championship during his time in Europe and is a well-respected racer on any capacity machine.

The 31-year-old from Anna Bay in NSW brings over 10 years of international experience to the team and a desire to win races and championships back in his native country.

For 2013, Parkes will take command of the Yamaha R1 and race the FX1000cc class at the Australian FX-Superbike Championship.

“I’m really looking forward to racing back at home and working with the YRT crew,” Parkes said. “While overseas, I always kept an eye on racing back here and YRT have always been the most professional off the track and had great success on it.

“It was awesome to work out a deal with the team and I look forward to getting out on the track and racing for them.”

Cru Halliday will step back to FX600 this season. Image: Keith Muir.

Cru Halliday will step back to FX600 this season. Image: Keith Muir.

Halliday, the current Formula Oz champion, will step down off his R1 and compete on the Yamaha R6 in the FX600cc category.

After several seasons dominating on the 1000cc both Cru and the team felt it was time for a new challenge and the smaller, more nimble R6 fits the bill perfectly.

“I think the change to the R6 will be good and it provides a new challenge for me,” he said. “The past few seasons I have been on the R1 and have had success, so now it’s my goal to take the same attitude into the FX600cc class and continue on with the good results.

“Yamaha and YRT have a remarkable history of winning with the R6 both here in Australia and overseas, so I hope to keep that tradition going and put the R6 on top.”

“I’m extremely happy with the Parkes / Halliday combination for YRT with Yamalube,” stated team owner, John Redding. “Both guys bring a vast amount of experience and knowledge to the table and also professionalism to their preparation that is needed to succeed.

“For Cru, the change of machinery will be good for him and will keep him fresh. He has won plenty of times on the R1, so the challenge of a new bike with different riders will only broaden his race craft. No doubt, he will be contender right from the moment he hits the track.

“Signing Broc is a real coup for us. He expressed an interest in returning to Australia and it worked out that we were able to make a deal happen. He is a world class racer with an enormous amount of experience on a wide range of bikes and circuits. I think it’s a powerful combination.”

YRT with Yamalube hit the track in anger for the first time in 2013 at the opening round of the Australian FX-Superbike Championship at Eastern Creek on 2-3 March.

Yamaha Racing will again boast a four rider line-up across two teams and contest the FX600/ FX1000 and Formula Oz championships in a huge presence.

Yamaha continue to be the leader in developing Australian talent in all forms of racing.

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