Halliday Banks Another Pole Position at Winton
It will be the #23 leading the pack in the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) Kawasaki Supersport class for the fifth time in a row, after Cru Halliday (Yamaha Factory Racing, YZF-R6) registered the quickest time here at the Spokes.com.au presents Round 6 Winton Motor Raceway.
Halliday wheeled his YZF-R6 around the circuit in a time of 1:23.384 to once again put the field on notice. The Yamaha rider is not likely to play for points and go all out for wins tomorrow.
Tom Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) will be looking to take it up to Halliday and the Kawasaki rider will start alongside him at the front of the gird. Toparis put in a best lap of 1:23.471 to end qualifying in second, but he is definitely within striking distance in both of tomorrow’s races.
In his return to ASBK, Nic Liminton (Yamaha YZF-R6) has definitely made the seamless transition back into the Kawasaki Supersport field, registering a fastest lap of 1:23.734 to end qualifying in third. Liminton could be the rider to break Halliday’s streak tomorrow here at Winton.
Becoming one of the most consistent riders in the Kawasaki Supersport class this season has been Damon Rees (Carl Cox M-Sport, Honda CBR 600) who finished qualifying in fourth with his time of 1:23.951. Rees had his best round of the season last time out at Morgan Park and he looks to have the speed to replicate that effort here at Winton.
Rounding out the top five after making his return at Morgan Park is Broc Pearson (Yamaha Australia, YZF-R6) who is starting to find the form he had before his injury at ‘The Bend’. The Yamaha mounted rider collected a fastest lap of 1:24.239 and will be looking to get back on the podium.
Just outside the top five was Max Croker (Mat Mladin Racing, Suzuki GSX-R600) who collected the sixth fastest time during qualifying with a 1:24.393.
Zac Johnson (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) is comfortably inside the top ten and will start from seventh position after his best lap of qualifying, a 1:24.872.
It all starts again tomorrow as the Kawasaki Supersport put it all on the line in two races, kicking off with the first race at 10:10am and then race two at 1:10pm.
Also don’t forget that you can catch all the racing action live on SBS and Fox Sport from 1pm (AEST) or you can catch the ASBK livestream all day.
ASBK Kawasaki Supersport Provisional Qualifying Results
1. Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:23.384
2. Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX6R) 1:23.471
3. Nic LIMINTON (Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:23.734
4. Damon REES (Carl Cox M-sport, Honda CBR RR) 1:23.951
5. Broc PEARSON (Yamaha Aust, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:24.239,
6. Max CROKER (Mat Mladin Racing, Suzuki GSX-R) 1:24.393
7. Zac JOHNSON (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:24.493
8. Giuseppe SCARCELLA (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX6R) 1:24.872
9. Ryan TAYLOR (Areden Homes, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:25.188
10. Scott NICHOLSON (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R) 1:25.193
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
