Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday starred with the opening race win at Winton’s final round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) presented by Motul Pirelli.

Halliday clawed his way to the front on lap 14 of 17 in a breakthrough result for the longtime factory Yamaha rider, victorious by 1.421s at the Victorian venue.

The first half of the race was controlled by Team Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss, however a charging Halliday halted his position at the front – the pair dicing back and forth until Halliday took the lead once and for all.

With Halliday stealing the win from Herfoss and title leader Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team) climbing to fourth by race’s end, the latter takes a three-point lead into the final race of the season.

Behind Halliday and Herfoss in third was returning former champion Josh Waters (Apex Motorsport Yamaha), as tyre degradation came into play during the closing laps.

Fourth was Maxwell from ninth on the grid, edging out Jamie Stauffer (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) and Brayden Elliott (Knobby Underwear Suzuki) in the final stages.

Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) came next, while Glenn Allerton (Yamaha Racing Team) saw his title chances slide, crossing the line in eighth. He’s now 15 points down with a single race remaining.

Early crashers included Daniel Falzon (JD Racing Yamaha) and Beau Beaton (Racer’s Edge Performance/Craig McMartin Racing Ducati), however both should be back for race two later this afternoon.