YRT Podium Surge at The Bend

The Yamaha Racing Team have enjoyed a memorable weekend at round three of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), held at the all-new The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, with all three riders ending up on the podium.

Supersport 600 Race 1 Start at The Bend

In the Yamaha Motor Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, Wayne Maxwell and Daniel Falzon finished in second and third place respectively which is the first time this year both riders have stood on the podium together, while Cru Halliday continued to dominate the 600cc Supersport division in another commanding performance.

Maxwell got the ball rolling by snaring his first pole position of the year and taking that confidence into the first of three races for the 1000cc Superbike class. Maxwell was able to get clear of the pack and take the race win and create a little slice of history being the first rider to win an ASBK race at the new venue.

Supersport 600 Race 1 Podium

In the final two races on Sunday, the Victorian rider scored two third places which was good enough for second place for the round. There was some controversy during the final leg when the race was red flagged after a rider went down just past the halfway stage.

“Second place for the round is not such a bad results for myself and the team,’ Maxwell begins. “The first race went according to plan but I felt I left a couple of things on the track in races two and three. I was just being patient in race three and waiting for the right opportunity when the red flag came out but that was beyond my control.

The ASBK Superbike field in the Race 1 start

“I lost a few points to Troy today but I have been consistent and competitive every race and I just have to keep applying the pressure.

“I now second in the points and we have a small break before we head to Darwin which is a track I like and have done well at before. I feel like we are well placed and I’m determined to keep working hard and will chase this championship all the way until the end,” he said.

Home town favourite, Daniel Falzon, gave the South Australian fans something to cheer about as he piloted his Yamaha YZF- R1M to third place for the round and his first podium of the year. He finished with 4-5-2 results and continued his consistent form that was displayed at the opening two rounds.

Falzon improved as the weekend went on as he and the team got the bike working well on the fast and long circuit. Each race saw his confidence grow and the local crowd got behind Falzon as he charged towards the podium in each race.

Cru Halliday leads Tom Toparis

Race three in fact saw Falzon hit the lead momentarily as he past Herfoss on the front straight as the lead group braked into turn one but Herfoss fought back quickly then only a few turns later. The race was red flagged because of a downed rider and Falzon was credited with second place.

The podium result at round three has also dragged him to third place in the standings as he continues to be one of the more consistent riders on the track.

“It’s been overwhelming seeing everyone out here with the Daniel Falzon hats on,” stated the home town hero. “I’m really pumped to be third in the championship after a good weekend here and it’s been an amazing weekend to race an event like this in my home state.

Maxwell leading Bayliss and Herfoss

“I can’t thank my team and sponsors enough and of course everyone who supports me. This third place is for everyone who is behind me and my team,” finished Falzon.

Cru Halliday was simply all class in the Australian Supersport Championship, as he pieced together another sensational weekend taking pole position on his Yamaha R6 and then going on to win all three races and cement his position at the top of the Supersport leader board.

Halliday won all three races over the weekend with a comfortable three to five second gap over his championship rival, Tom Toparis. He now holds a 12point advantage over Toparis as the series hits the halfway stage.

“This round has been a big step forward for the team and I,” Halliday offers. “After Phillip Island, we were fifteen points behind the championship leader and are now 12 points in front after round three so it’s been a great turnaround by the team who have worked so hard to supply me a fantastic race bike.

“Hats off to the team. Everyone worked so hard over the past couple of months and we are starting to see the reward on the track. The bike has worked simply unreal since the test at Wakefield Park, so it’s a credit to the team and we plan to keep this momentum rolling for the coming rounds.”

Full round report for Superbike and Supersport from The Bend can be found here.