Team Honda Racing’s factory Australian Superbike effort was launched in Melbourne yesterday afternoon, held at the Watermark Bar in the Docklands precinct.

Honda’s 2011 team riders Jamie Stauffer and Wayne Maxwell were introduced as the riders, joined by special guest and Isle of Man TT winner Cam Donald.

This season marks Honda’s return to Australian road racing, regrouping with the Paul Free-lead squad, and Honda Australia general manager, motorcycles, Tony Hinton looks forward to the year ahead.

“Honda Australia is thrilled to be back on board with Paul Free with Team Honda Racing for 2011,” Hinton said. “This is a collaboration that started almost a decade ago and has developed into a truly successful partnership.

“We are excited to have such high calibre riders on the team with Jamie and Wayne, both come with excellent credentials and we are in no doubt they will both offer standout performances as part of this fresh Team Honda Racing for 2011.”

Team manager Paul Free is equally excited for the year ahead, the team adopting some all-new components this season.

“The Honda CBR1000RR for 2011 is like no other bike we have built before,” Free explained. “We are employing a few new systems on the bike this year including the Motec engine management system and SMART Racing Components, both of which are proving extremely successful in testing.

“Add to that two of the best riders in the country in Jamie Stauffer and Wayne Maxwell and I believe we have a very, very competitive motorcycle package.”

Having come so close to a championship in recent years, this year could be Maxwell’s year and he’s hoping to convert his speed into a title.

“It would be great to convert all my hard work into a championship win this year for myself and the team,” Maxwell said. “We have done quite a bit of testing with the new SMART components and the Motec system and the bike is great – I’m really comfortable on it.”

Two-time ASBK champion teammate Stauffer has enjoyed working with Maxwell during the pre-season and said the pair use similar settings on track.

“Wayne and I have never raced in a team together, but we get along really well,” Stauffer said. “We are both competing to win the championship of course, but above all we are part of a team and we share information readily.

“Our bike set-up is actually not that different so the process works well.”

Honda also this week launched its all-new website at www.teamhondaracing.com.au, which provides background information on the team, tech info on the bikes and will be an up-to-date resource for racing news, photos and footage of the 2011 season.

The opening round of the season will take place next weekend at Phillip Island alongside the first Superbike World Championship event of the year in Victoria.