Yamaha Racing Team has signed Aiden Wagner alongside Cru Halliday for the 2020 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), confirming the departure of Daniel Falzon.

Former international Wagner started the 2019 season off strongly aboard his privateer Yamaha YZF-R1, capturing victory at round one before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at round two.

“I’m excited and proud to have come to an arrangement with the Yamaha Racing Team and look forward to working with an experienced and professional race team to take my racing to the next level,” Wagner commented.

“Last year when I returned to Australia, I wanted to race the Yamaha R1 as it was the bike I felt most comfortable on and now to get a reward to be on the factory team is amazing and takes a lot of pressure from my shoulders. All I have to worry about now is going fast and staying on.

“It’s great that the team is also based here in Queensland near me so I can build a good relationship with everyone and believe this will be the start of a long and successful relationship for both myself and YRT.

“I started the championship strongly in 2019 before I got injured, but I’m now back to full fitness and my body is in good shape, so now my goal is to carry that throughout the season and do my best to secure the Superbike championship for Yamaha and myself in 2020.”

Former Supersport champion Halliday just completed a stellar comeback campaign in the premier class, where he finished fourth in the championship standings following a string of podium results.

“It’s great to be back with the YRT crew and with the same bike and people that have been a big part of my racing in recent years,” said Halliday. “I have familiarity in everything around me and both the bike and myself has been developed to the point where I think winning the 2020 Superbike championship is a realistic and achievable goal.

“I gained valuable experience in 2019 and maybe the biggest thing is consistency and that every point is valuable. Mike won the championship this year with an average third place finish across the season, so you need to be up the front in every race of every round to be in contention.

“I know we have a great starting point with the Yamaha R1M and that YRT will continue to work hard and give me the best motorcycle on the track. We start racing again in February but I’m motivated and have already started training for a huge season ahead and can’t wait to be back on the grid and racing again.”

Falzon exits the squad following two years with the team, experiencing a difficult 2019 campaign that saw him wind up eighth in the standings.