New Zealand’s Ben Townley will use the 2012 Australian Supercross Championship as a stepping stone of sorts to gauge his form at the end of this season.

Former AMA East Coast Lites Supercross Champion Townley will plan to race in Australia at the end of this year after the AMA Pro Motocross Championship is complete, returning to Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing for the series.

Townley was originally scheduled to race the Monster Energy MX Nationals with Honda Australia, however an 11th hour offer from TwoTwo Motorsports in the U.S. will see him return to the U.S. 12 months ahead of schedule.

“I’m able to take the opportunity with TwoTwo and I’m very, very grateful,” Townley explained. “To race supercross for Honda in Australia is a chance for me to repay [Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing].”

Although Townley will return to Australia at the end of the year for supercross if the series goes ahead, he’s not yet certain whether or not he’ll look to race AMA Supercross full time again in 2013 if the opportunity arises.

“It’s hard to say, to be honest. Everything has moved quick and I’ve sort of been put in a position where I am 12 months ahead of schedule,” he continued. “I’m not really sure yet, to be totally honest.

“I really wanted to use this season getting back to racing full time in Australia as a stepping stone, then use supercross in Australia to see where I am at.

“Like you said, I have won in the past and I believe I still have the supercross skills to do so, but I haven’t been racing enough and I need time on a supercross track to find out whether or not I would. It’s really too early to say.”

Australian Supercross remains uncertain at this stage, with Global Action Sports recently announcing that it won’t continue with Super X in 2012 and beyond. Motorcycling Australia is currently finalising the future of the sport.