Recently crowned Australian Supersport Champion Troy Herfoss has impressed in his first ever Superbike test during a track day at Phillip Island this week.

The Team Suzuki rider made his debut on the Phil Tainton racing-prepared GSX-R1000 on Monday at the picturesque Island circuit, improving on Tuesday to unofficially lap in the mid-1:34 range despite large amounts of traffic on track during the test.

“It was awesome – I’ve really been wanting to ride a 1000 forever, pretty much!” 23-year-old Herfoss told MotoOnline.com.au. “I can’t really explain what it was like, just really, really fast and it wanted to wheelspin everywhere once I got going.

“My first time down the straight I clicked top gear and got tank-slappers in the wind because it was starting to wheelstand. It really made me have to think about everything I do on the bike, for sure going fast on the Superbike will be a lot more difficult than on a 600.

“If I had to compare the riding styles of both, the 600 is more like playing in a heavy metal band while the Superbike is like being a pianist in the Opera. It’s going to be so much fun though – everything I dreamed of as a kid.”

After switching to road racing with Team Suzuki as the reigning AMA American Supermoto Champion in 2009, Herfoss has proved a fast learner in Supersport and he believes he has what it takes in the main game next season.

“Both years on the 600 I would see the Superbikes on track with me at tests and all that, kind of wishing it was me,” he continued. “I’m so happy I’ve done the two years on the 600 now though because I feel like I’m ready for it and I’ve learnt a lot.

“Obviously I have a ways to go at the moment, but I can see how I can go as fast as the top guys. I just have to really work on it and take it step by step at this stage.”

Herfoss – who lapped with the letter H – was joined by last year’s ASBK Champion Josh Waters at the test, while his brother Brodie Waters made his official debut as the team’s Supersport contender in place of Herfoss for 2011.

Suzuki’s 2011 ASBK team is yet to be officially announced, the future of three-time series champion Shawn Giles currently unconfirmed at this point.