DesmoSport Ducati press release:

DesmoSport Ducati stand-in rider Cru Halliday has sealed sixth overall in the Australian Superbike support category at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

In his first appearance with the factory-supported squad owned by triple Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss and Ben Henry, Halliday managed to finish the weekend unscathed with 6-6-7 results across the three races.

Halliday further improved his lap-speed aboard the Pirelli-shod 1299 Panigale S during this morning’s final eight-lap encounter for the event, crossing the line seventh in dry conditions.

“With another opportunity to ride the DesmoSport Ducati in the dry we moved forward again,” Halliday reflected. “We made a change with the shock for the final race and it worked, but the front wasn’t where I needed it just yet – the rain really affected our chance to set the bike for me earlier in the weekend.

“Still, the team did a great job with such a small amount of time for me on the 1299 Panigale S and we improved every time I went out. I dropped my laptime by seven-tenths today and that was on the last lap, so we were heading in the right direction and I really appreciate the opportunity to fill in for Mike this weekend.”

DesmoSport Ducati regular Mike Jones completed his second-career MotoGP World Championship weekend with the Avintia Racing Ducati team, finishing the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix inside the points with an impressive 15th position.