Halliday sets the Tone in Kawasaki Supersport Free Practice
Current Kawasaki Supersport points leader Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R6) has sent a warning to his competition, collecting the fastest lap of Spokes.com.au presents Round 6 Winton Motor Raceway. Halliday showed great speed around Winton Motor Raceway with a 1:23.200 and will be looking to qualify fastest tomorrow in the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK).
Overnight there was quite a bit of rain around Winton and with that many of the riders chose to skip the first practice session to save tires. As the day went on the sun dried out the track and conditions were great for the afternoon session.
In his return to ASBK, Nic Liminton (Yamaha YZF-R6) made it look like he never left picking up the second fastest lap of the day. His time of 1:24.237 will give Liminton great confidence heading into qualifying.
Continuing his strong form in the Kawasaki Supersport class is New Zealand rider Damon Rees (Carl Cox M-Sport, Honda CBR-RR) clocking the third fastest lap around Winton. Currently sitting third in the championship standings, Rees stopped the clock at 1:24.276.
Max Croker (Mat Mladin Racing, Suzuki GSX-R) enjoyed his time out on Winton, finding his best time in the final session, a 1:24.576. After missing the podium in both races at Morgan Park, Croker will be looking to bounce back at Winton.
Rounding out the top five, was usual front runner Tom Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) who will be definitely looking to improve in tomorrow qualifying sessions. The Kawasaki rider set a best lap of 1:24.787, to battle with Halliday he will need to find just over one and a half seconds.
Just outside the top five was Broc Pearson (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha YZF-R6) who made a welcome return to the field at Morgan Park. Pearson will be looking to find his early season form and has put himself in a good position heading into qualifying tomorrow, his best lap was 1:24.955.
After a weekend he would rather forget at Morgan Park, Giuseppe Scarcella (BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX-6R) found himself seventh fastest on the time-sheet with a 1:25.234. Scarcella will be looking to gain back valuable points as he slipped to ninth in the Championship race.
Scott Nicholson (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R) got around the Winton circuit in 1:25.570, ending today’s free practice in eighth position.
The top ten was rounded out by Zac Johnson (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) in ninth with a 1:25.703 and in tenth was Lachlan Epis (ResponseRE, Yamaha YZF-R6) after ending free practice with a 1:26.163.
The battle for pole position kicks off tomorrow, with qualifying one at 9:45am and then again in the after for qualifying two at 1:05pm.
ASBK Kawasaki Supersport Free Practice Provisional Times
1. Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:23.200
2. Nic LIMINTON (Yamaha R6) 1:24.237
3. Damon REES (Carl Cox M-sport, Honda CBR RR) 1:24.276
4. Max CROKER (Mat Mladin Racing, Suzuki GSX-R) 1:24.576
5. Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX6R) 1:24.787
6. Broc PEARSON (Yamaha Aust, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:24.955
7. Giuseppe SCARCELLA (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX6R) 1:25.324
8. Scott NICHOLSON (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R) 1:25.570
9. Zac JOHNSON (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:25.703
10. Lachlan EPIS (ResponseRE, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:26.163
ASBK Digital Program
ASBK is pleased to announce the arrival of the digitalised Official ASBK Round 6 Program.
The program can be found on the website ASBK.COM.AU.
Public access to the digital ASBK Program will feature many interesting and informative sections including; rider entry lists, race schedules, previous round wrap ups, championship points standings, track information, biographies, getting started in racing information, partnership information, race pictures and so much more.
Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from ASBK by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here. To purchase your tickets for ASBK head to asbk.com.au.
Remaining 2018 ASBK Calendar Rounds
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
Images Courtesy of TBGSport
