Maxwell will be back with Honda in 2010.

Honda Australia has confirmed it will support a privately-entered team in the 2010 Australian Superbike Championship with current series number three Wayne Maxwell contesting this year’s series for the G.A.S. Honda dealer team.

Maxwell joins the G.A.S team run by technical guru Geoff Winzer, who established Geoff’s Auto Spares in 1985, became a Honda Dealership in 1994 and started trading as G.A.S Honda Motorcycles & Power Equipment in 2008.

The partnership will be a formidable one with Winzer having managed the past four Privateer Cup winners including Craig Coxhell, Chris Trounson, Glenn Allerton and Russell Holland.

“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,” said 27-year-old Maxwell.

“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 started running his race team in 1999 and is well known on the circuit for having mentored and produced some of the finest talent in the country including Josh Brookes – now a factory HM Plant Honda rider in British Superbike.

“We really want the big Cup this time,” Winzer said. “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. We are still seeking naming right’s sponsorship, but so far the bike is coming together really well and the plan is to go testing at the end of this month.

“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.”

G.A.S Honda will be based in Wangaratta, Victoria, out of Winzer’s dealership, with a satellite team including young gun Kris McLaren and possibly 2008 ASBK champion Glenn Allerton in the works, however yet to be confirmed.