Cru Halliday to ride DesmoSport Ducati in MotoGP Support races
Cru Halliday will contest this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix support races at Phillip Island aboard the Ducati Panigale 1299 S.
With Yamaha Racing Team not taking part in the MotoGP support events, Halliday has been freed up to ride the DesmoSport Ducati, after regular incumbent Mike Jones was drafted to Avintia Ducati in the MotoGP World Championship.
Halliday brings a wealth of experience to the official DesmoSport Ducati squad co-owned by Troy Bayliss and Ben Henry, finishing fourth in the 2016 ASBK standings including a race win at Winton’s final round earlier this month.
“Racing with DesmoSport Ducati at Phillip Island will definitely be something very new to me, but it’s a real privilege to be in the team operated by Ben Henry and Troy Bayliss,” Halliday commented. “It’s a really professional team and I’m really excited heading into the weekend.
“After a strong final round of the ASBK I’m feeling really confident, so it will be a matter of getting comfortable on the bike, setting it up to suit the way I ride and also for me to get a good feeling with the Pirelli tyres – I’m sure I can get a good result.
“With practice, qualifying and two races on the first day, I just need to focus on the job, take it one lap at a time and get up to speed as quickly as I can. My results at the start of the year at Phillip Island were quite good and I’m really excited to see where it heads.”
Meanwhile, Jones will join the MotoGP grid once again aboard the Avintia Racing Ducati grand prix machine, which he rode to 18th at Motegi’s Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday after being called in at the 11th-hour.
Halliday will make his first appearance aboard the DesmoSport Ducati during the opening ‘Phillip Island Championship’ practice session this Friday morning. The domestic Superbikes are scheduled for four eight-lap races across the weekend.
