Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Yamaha Racing Team riders Wayne Maxwell, Daniel Falzon and Cru Halliday have all enjoyed a productive weekend at round two of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship, held at Wakefield Park, NSW, with Maxwell landing on the podium and Falzon taking a consistent fourth place in the Superbike category while Halliday scored a win in the Supersport class on his Yamaha R6.
After an up-and-down weekend at the opening round at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit last month, Maxwell bounced back to claim second position overall for the round by scoring a 1-2 result from second place on the grid.

Maxwell, was engaged in a weekend long and thrilling battle with long-time rival, Troy Herfoss, in very tough conditions as heat and wind played havoc with riders on the track.

Race one will go down as one to remember as both riders were determined to get the race win and assert some authority in the championship. The lead changed several times during the 20 laps but it ended up being a drag race to the finish line where Maxwell’s Yamaha YZF- R1M out powered his rival to take the race win by a narrow .031 of a second.

Maxwell was on course to do the double as he took control of race two and led the 28-rider field for the opening 11 laps. But Herfoss was able to make a move for the lead on lap 12 and despite Maxwell’s best attempts to regain the position, he had to settle for second after another tight duel with Herfoss.

“It was a very positive weekend for me and the YRT team at a track where I have been a little up and down in the past,” Maxwell explains. “This year I’m chasing more consistency and it was important I get the train back on the track after Phillip Island.

“While I didn’t win the round, I feel confident leaving here and know we are back in the championship and there are a lot of tracks to come that suit the bike and myself so I know I can improve on my third place in the standings in the rounds ahead,” Maxwell ends.

Daniel Falzon put together a very consistent weekend of racing taking fourth place in both of the Superbike races contested over the weekend. Falzon was always inside the top five all weekend and endured race long battles with Troy Bayliss in both legs.

“I really enjoyed racing with Troy as he has so much experience but he was so hard to pass. The time it took for me to get past him just allowed the front three to get a small gap that was really difficult to close down as they were riding so well.

“It was a good weekend and I did my best in both races. The bike was working well and the team was awesome but it just highlighted the need for a good qualifying lap and then a good start as the level of competition is so close this year,” Falzon said.

Falzon now sits in fifth position after two rounds.

Cru Halliday flew the YRT flag with pride in the Supersport 600cc class, enjoying the perfect weekend at Wakefield Park. Not only did he score two wins from two starts on his Yamaha YZF-R6, he also snared pole position in a weekend to remember for the New South Welshmen.

Halliday dismantled the field in both legs, taking the race victory by four seconds, then went on to win by a similar margin in race two to complete an amazing weekend for Halliday and his team.

The win marks Cru’s first win in the 600cc class and now has him in second place in the championship, just four points behind the series leader.

“I can’t thank the Yamaha Racing Team enough for the efforts they have put in over the past few weeks. After Phillip Island, the boys have been hard at it and working stupid hours to get things right and they have done a sensational job.

“My bike was unreal all weekend and despite the wind and the weather, it was a great weekend and one that I want to repeat as often as I can this year,” Halliday expresses.

Round three of the Australian Superbike Championship now moves to a new venue, The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, which takes place on 19-22 April.