Queensland favourite Robbie Bugden completed his first laps aboard Yamaha Racing Team’s YZF-R1 at Queensland Raceway on Sunday, impressed following an initial shakedown run with the team.

The experienced Australian Superbike (ASBK) number three will make a high profile switch to the rival Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) in 2014, following an elusive eight-year run in the ASBK with official Suzuki support.

Bugden joined the factory Yamaha team at a ride day in his first outing aboard the R1 yesterday, which is of a lower specification than the GSX-R1000 he’s been campaigning in the ASBK. He also debuted the team’s updated livery (pictured) unveiled yesterday morning.

“My first impressions were really quite good, actually,” Bugden told CycleOnline.com.au. “Obviously it’s a championship-winning bike and it’s good, but it is very different to what I’m used to and will certainly be a challenge for me to get the most out of it.

“In saying that though I felt comfortable on the bike right away, the chassis works really well, and I had a good feeling straight up – I really enjoyed it right away. I got quicker and quicker with more laps I did and at the end of the day I was relatively close.

“Working with Kev Marshall and the guys in the team was brilliant to be honest, a breath of fresh air for me, and I just can’t wait to get back on it. I’ll keep training and make sure I’m ready to go.”

Five-time New Zealand Superbike Champion Bugden last rode a Yamaha in 2005 as a privateer in the ASBK, noting minor similarities with the current version of the YZF-R1.

“I always had a really good front-end feeling with the Yamaha and that characteristic stood out as soon as I was back on it,” he added. “That was familiar right away and actually something I really missed, so it was definitely positive for me from the outset.”

Bugden will join the entire YRT team for the first official test in February.