News 22 Mar 2018

Supersport transition has 'reinvented' riding style for Halliday

Experienced Yamaha rider not discounting competitiveness of category return.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday has declared his transition back to the Supersport category has reinvented his riding style, which comes as a delight to the 29-year-old.

Halliday, who claimed pole and two stunning race victories at last weekend’s second round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) in the Supersport class, says despite being the title favourite, he still has his hands full in the division with a number competitive contenders.

“It has reinvented my riding, which I like,” Halliday told CycleOnline.com.au. “It is a bit of a different story where you’re coming to the track and not racing the big guys, but there’s still some serious talent in the Supersport class and I definitely have my hands full this year.

“I knew the expectation was going to be there, I won a Superbike race last year and I was up at the pointy end of the field for most of the year, so I know the pressure’s going to be there. I just need to enjoy it, I’m not going to put that much pressure on myself to meet the standards, I’m just going out there to have fun and hopefully those results meet up with the expectations. It’s exactly what I’m doing, I just need to tackle one round at a time.”

Remaining optimistic about a return to the premier class in 2019, the number 23 understands he still needs to finish out the current season on a positive note, and more importantly, with a championship to his credit.

“Next year anything is possible and hopefully I can be back up in the Superbike class and transfer what I’ve learned from this year,” he continued. “I’m on the factory bike, so that’s what they have to come out and beat. I know when I was a privateer, we always wanted to beat the factory guys, and to yourself, it’s like you have to beat them to get the factory ride.

“But in saying that, I’ve got to hold my own ground, I’m not going to be gentle on them, I’m still going to be aggressive and hold my part and put the factory Yamaha bike on the top spot.”

Halliday sits four points behind series leader Tom Toparis (Cube Racing) as the championship heads to The Bend Motorsport Park on 19-22 April in South Australia, which will mark round three of the seven stop tour.

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