Racing: Maxwell and Roberts remain Honda pilots

Superbike rider Wayne Maxwell and enduro star AJ Roberts have officially confirmed they will both remain part of the Honda orbit in 2010.

Maxwell will race a CBR1000RR in the Australian superbike title after signing a deal with Wangaratta-based Victorian dealer G.A.S Honda, while Roberts has formed his own team to take on the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), the Australian Four-Day Enduro and other key events on the calendar.

Maxwell was a serious contender for the superbike title in 2009 with Motologic Honda, but a bad crash early in the final round saw him finish the year in third behind Suzuki's Josh Waters and his team-mate Glenn Allerton.

Motologic has since taken on a new path with Ducati, while after a period of uncertainty Maxwell has now signed with the Geoff Winzer-led G.A.S Honda.

"I am thrilled to have signed with G.A.S. Honda Racing, to be able to continue my relationship with Honda and pick up where I left off last year," Maxwell said. "I have had a great off season and I am excited to start testing and work with a very committed and hungry new team. Geoff has had great success in the past and I am looking forward to working with him."

Winzer said: "We've been racing for 10 years now and have a lot of experience under the belt. We really want the big cup this time! If you look at last few rounds of last year, Wayne was the one putting the pressure on all the other riders. He's tough and I believe we can do it together.

"The support we are getting from Honda Australia has been crucial to getting the team happening this year.

"It's definitely going to be very different this year with all the other brands coming in, but we've always worked on putting together a professional team to represent the brand no matter what."

Meanwhile, it's all systems go for Roberts too, who now has his own enduro team to sit alongside his desert racing committments for the Alice Springs-based Desert Edge Racing Team.

"I'm excited to say that for 2010 I will be racing for the Force Honda Thor Michelin Off Road Team," AJ said. "Honda Australia has given me a great opportunity to represent them at the highest level in off-road racing and along with major support from Force Accessories, Gas Imports and Michelin Australia, they are giving me the best opportunity to put together a great race season.

"I'm looking forward to lining up on the start line of the first round of the AORC in Port Macquarie (NSW) on March 13-14,"

AJ will also be contesting the Finke Desert Race under the guidance of former Finke Champion Michael Vroom, owner of Desert Edge Motorcycles in Alice Springs.

"This will be my first year racing Finke so there is a lot to learn, but riding under Michael's new DERT Team will give me the best chance I can get out there."

The 27-year-old will also take on the Australian Safari with the help of his former team GHR Honda.