Image: Russell Colvin.

A blistering 1m29.774s by Cru Halliday sees the Yamaha Racing Team rider complete the opening day of the Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) pre-season test fastest, as international rider Harrison Voight set the benchmark in Supersport at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Following a recent resurface between turns five and six, and nine to 12, times vastly improved from the opening session with two outings for Superbike riders taking place in the afternoon, followed by another two sessions in the evening under the lights for the premier class.

Halliday was able to post a 1m29.7s in both the third and fourth sessions under the lights, with his effort in the final outing marginally quicker. McMartin Racing Ducati rider Josh Waters was second quickest on the V4 R and the only other in the 1m29s bracket, notching a 1m29.970s in the third session.

Pace-setter as proceedings commenced at SMSP, Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) was ultimately P3 for the day courtesy of a 1m30.024s, as current champion Mike Jones and DesmoSport Ducati’s Broc Pearson were fourth and fifth respectively.

Expected to compete in the Asia Road Racing Championship this year, Lachlan Epis (BMW) posted the sixth fastest time in the form of a 1m30.407s, leading Max Stauffer (GTR Yamaha), Senna Agius (Honda), Ted Collins (Livson Racing) and Mark Chiodo (Honda) who completed the top 10.

Image: Russell Colvin.

European Moto2 Championship-bound Harrison Voight narrowly missed the 1m32s bracket in Supersport, topping the 600 class courtesy of a 1m33.002.

After an impressive return at Wakefield Park last year, Sean Condon (Yamaha) surfaced once more in the national paddock and was second fastest with a 1m33.239s, posting a string of laps together in the mid to low 1m33s bracket towards the end of the final session.

Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) who has shown strong form through the St George Summer Night Series races was third, also notching his best of 1m33.635s in the fourth outing. Defending champion John Lyrtas (Yamaha) was fourth and the final rider in the 1m33s mark, ahead of Scott Nicholson (Yamaha) who rounded out the top five.

Positions six to 10 featured Dallas Skeer (Yamaha), former WorldSSP rider Giuseppe Scarcella (Yamaha), SSP300 graduate Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha), Tom Bramich (Yamaha) and Jack Passfield (Yamaha), as Brian Bolster (Suzuki) was the quickest rider in the Supertwins category with a 1m45.015s.

Marcus Hamod (Yamaha) topped the charts in Supersport 300, posting a 1m44.663s to lead former Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) champion Cameron Swain (Yamaha) and the returning Brandon Demmery (Yamaha). Reigning Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Cameron Dunker was the quickest rider on a Moto3, notching a 1m39.168s while doing double duties and also testing an R6 as he makes the step to Supersport.

In the OJC, Riley Nauta (Yamaha) set the benchmark of 2m00.160s, his fastest time coming under the lights in the fourth session. Bodie Paige (Yamaha) and Hunter Corney (Yamaha) completed the top three, both posting their best laps in the third session.

Testing resumes tomorrow at Sydney Motorsport Park with all classes to complete another four sessions, this time each during the day.

Detailed results