Carlton Dry Honda Racing has emerged as the favourite to sign Victorian Josh Cachia for the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championships.

Cachia has returned home following last weekend’s San Diego round of the American West Coast 250SX series, now almost certain to ink a deal with the factory Honda team aboard a CRF250R in the MX2/Lites class.

It was originally planned for Cachia to complete the entire US series for the JDR Motorsports KTM team, however he’s been released from that deal to return home following the team’s announcement that it will cease operations in May unless additional funding can be found.

Carlton Dry Honda Racing team owner Yarrive Konsky confirmed to MotoOnline.com.au that the team is in the final stages of negotiations with the talented 21-year-old, the deal likely to be finalised this week.

“We’re working with our current sponsors and are making sure we can facilitate the deal,” Konsky told MotoOnline.com.au. “We have an interest in pursuing the Lites championships following our success last year. We hope to conclude our negotiations within 48 hours.”

Carlton Dry Honda won the MX2 outdoor title with Ford Dale last season and also clinched the supercross title with Gavin Faith. Dale will step up to the MX1 category fulltime in 2013 alongside returning New Zealander Ben Townley.

Cachia has previously ridden for Honda and Konsky earlier in his career, most recently in 2008 before switching to the JDR Motorsports team in 2009.