Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team with YMI rookie Cru Halliday enters this weekend’s third round of the Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) with increasing confidence following a glowing test at the venue earlier this month.

Halliday trailed more experienced teammate Robbie Bugden in the YRT test setting an unofficial quickest time of 1m10.0, which was around four tenths of a second from Bugden’s best at what’s believed to be the bogey circuit on the calendar for the YZF-R1.

In his first year racing the Superbike class, Halliday believes the team is getting stronger as the year progresses and that a top three result is in his sights for this weekend.

“I’m pretty confident about this round,” Halliday said. “We had some good testing times and especially after the high of Mallala, I’m going into this round feeling good.

“The test day went really well – we actually went a bit quicker than what we thought we were going to end up going. Robbie set the benchmark so I know that the Yamaha R1 can do that.

“Queensland Raceway is a good track, especially for spectators watching the racing. For the bikes it’s a late breaking track and I’ve seen the testing times and there are about 13 guys that could run up front this weekend.

“This weekend I’m hoping for a top three, if not a top five finish. I set my standards pretty high for myself and the team is getting stronger and stronger as the year goes on.”

Halliday’s season-best performance came last time out at Mallala, scoring fourth overall and climbing to sixth in the championship standings in the process.