ROCKSTAR HONDA RACING:

Byrne will ride for the new-look Rockstar Honda Racing team.

Michael Byrne will be riding with support from Rockstar and Honda under the newly formed Rockstar Honda Maxima Team.

The outfit was formed with his current personal sponsor Rockstar. Rockstar has put together an opportunity for Michael to compete back
home. Michael was also able to bring together previous sponsor Honda Motorcycles for motorcycle support. Together Michael and Honda won several championships.

Byrne will enter the Pro Open battle for the 2009 Australasian Super X Championship come Round Two of the series this weekend in Geelong, Victoria. He is looking forward to go head to head with the likes of Chad Reed, Dan Reardon and Jay Marmont, whose epic battle commenced in Tasmania at round one last Saturday.

Although the rest of the field has already got one round under their belt, Byrne’s experience and composure will see him join the series with
high-hopes of being a major championship contender. Byrne’s return will mark not only his first taste of competition on home-soil since the Gosford Supercross Masters in 2004, but also a return to Honda weaponry; an opportunity ‘Byrner’ is looking forward to.

“It’s been a long time since I raced in Australia – especially on a Honda – so I’m definitely looking forward heading back and riding in
front of the Aussie fans. I am going to give it my all and I don’t know what to expect, I will ride the bike for the first time today in
preparation for this coming weekends event”

Michael made the transition to the USA in 2001, riding a limited schedule for the Emig Racing/Edgesports team – after winning the 1999
Supercross Masters series with Honda. The following year, Byrne made the move to full-time AMA competition aboard an Amsoil Honda and finished fifth in the 2003 AMA 125cc outdoor series.

In 2005 and 2006, Byrne moved to the Factory Kawasaki outfit where he achieved top-five results in both the SX and MX championships, before settling into the Rockstar Makita Suzuki Team in 2007 alongside fellow countryman, Chad Reed.

Byrne is already back in Australia for this coming weekend.