Yamaha Racing Team gets the green light for 2020

The 2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship charges off the grid today at the iconic Phillip Island circuit and being run in conjunction with the opening round of the World Superbike Championship, promises to be an action packed weekend of world class racing.

Yamaha Racing Team riders Cru Halliday (left) and Aiden Wagner (right) will compete the 2020 ASBK on their 2020 YZF-R1M’s.

Headlining the Yamaha Racing Team ASBK assault will be Cru Halliday and Aiden Wagner, mounted on their 2020 YZF-R1M’s. Halliday continues his long relationship with the Yamaha Racing Team and is out to improve on his fourth place finish in 2019 while Wagner is the newcomer to YRT, but no stranger to Yamaha.

Wagner not only won the corresponding round in 2019, he simply dominated, taking all three race wins on the weekend to kick off his championship tilt in perfect fashion. Unfortunately, a fall leading up to round two halted his 2019 campaign.

Aiden Wagner joins YRT for the 2020 Australian Superbike Championship, making his debut at Phillip Island this weekend.

But, despite another injury leading into this weekend, Wagner has recovered well and is expected to be on the pace when the lights go green at Phillip Island this weekend. He has gelled quickly with the YRT R1M and his experience around the Phillip Island circuit will hold him in good stead come race day.

“I did some damage to my thumb at the official test here at Phillip Island a month ago, but I received some quick treatment from the RACESAFE crew, and I was able to ride within a couple of weeks at our YRT test. It felt pretty good then and with another two weeks of recovery I’m right to go.

Wagner was previously racing Yamaha and says the transition to the factory bike from his previous has been smooth.

“I’m excited to go racing and grateful for the opportunity to represent the Yamaha Racing Team. We had a shakedown of the 2020 bike, and I think we have a really good package this year. The transition from the bike I raced last year to the factory bike has been smooth and now it’s up to me to get the results,” Wagner ends.

For Halliday, the goal is simple. Be better than last year. Halliday was in championship contention right until the final round. He even lead the championship at stages throughout the year because of his consistent riding on all circuits.

Halliday’s goal for the 2020 season is to remain consistent but improve and attempt to collect more race wins.

Halliday was a podium regular in 2019 but acknowledges a couple of race wins sprinkled in with his constant podiums is what’s required to take the next step up in the championship and secure the number one plate for Yamaha.

“Last year, I proved that I could be consistent and stay on the bike and that was a goal coming into the season. This year, that goal remains in place, but I also need to grab some race wins when the opportunity presents itself.

Halliday raved on about the 2020 bike in a previous press release, stating that last year’s issues had been ironed out.

“With the depth now in the ASBK, a race win is gold not just in terms of the points but also the confidence it brings. Let’s get the championship off to a good start this weekend and I can’t wait to get back into racing. The off season has been too long,” Halliday signs off.

Yamaha will not only have a contingent of riders competing in the domestic Supersport 600, Supersport 300 and bLU cRU Oceania Cup, but also the factory Pata Yamaha team challenging for the World Superbike Championship. On track action gets under on Friday with the main events held Saturday and Sunday. Off track, there is a heap of activities and be sure to swing by the Yamaha stand for a full range of 2020 merchandise.