Image: Alex Gobert.

Superbike rookie Cru Halliday is certain he can challenge for the 2014 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship following a strong return to the YZF-R1 at Wakefield Park’s official test yesterday.

The talented 25-year-old was unofficially third fastest on Tuesday (click here for the complete report), 0.6s shy of two-time Australian Superbike Champion Glenn Allerton, and first of the factory YRT with YMI R1s.

Following a full season in Supersport last year Halliday was half a second quicker than new Yamaha recruit Robbie Bugden and almost a full second faster than Kevin Curtain, in what was his first appearance on a Superstock-based R1 since 2011.

Halliday won the 2010 ASBK C- and D-grade Prostock Championship and the 2011 A- and B-grade Prostock Championship on standardised versions of the R1, before clinching the 2012 Formula Oz Championship on a highly modified factory Yamaha. Last year he was runner-up in FX-600s after struggling to gel completely with the YZF-R6.

Finally gaining his long-awaited opportunity to race in the premier class, Halliday is poised to benefit from a mixture of experience and enthusiasm back aboard his favoured R1 and remains optimistic about his Swann Series championship chances.

“It was positive to be back on the R1 and it suits my style a lot better,” Halliday said. “I wasn’t really aiming for a 59.1s to be honest – I would have been happy in the high 59s. But you always want to go the next step and I want to go into the 58s.

“No doubt I knew Allerton and Bugden would be quick, that’s pretty clear, but I know I have the times to race at the front. Racing with faster guys makes you a better rider, but I’m not going to talk myself down – I reckon I’m in with a shot at the title.

“There are five other guys probably thinking the same thing at least, so it’s good we all get to go head-to-head. I’m going to stay confident, keep fit and see how the year turns out.”

Despite the production variant of the YZF-R1 producing less outright power and weighing in heavier compared to its later rivals, Halliday insists it has its own strong points that he believes will assist him in racing for victory.

“I take all the comments onboard, for sure the bike has some disadvantages, but in saying that we have our strong points – the torque on these things is unbelievable,” he added. “I’ve been on the R1 for a lot of years before last year and I really have a good front-end feel. That’s something I struggled to find on the R6.

“You always hear other people’s bikes being so much stronger, but come race day racing’s racing. There’s going to be block passes, all kinds of moves, so… can they use all that power?”

The 2014 Swann Series will commence at the Goulburn-based venue on 14-16 March.