Glenn Allerton and Jamie Staffer will form an official Honda entry at The 6 Hour. Image: TBG Sport/Andrew Gosling.

Honda Australia has submitted a surprise last minute entry for the 2010 Bel-Ray 6 Hour to be contested at Phillip Island on 3-5 December.

The official factory team will field former Australian Superbike Champions Jamie Stauffer and Glenn Allerton under the Honda Racing banner in a team managed by Motologic owner Paul Free.

With speculation linking the Motologic Racing team to Honda for next season after a single season utilising Ducati equipment, Free managing Honda’s team and Stauffer riding at The 6 Hour aboard a Honda is the first concrete sign that the switch is on track to take place.

Teamed with Symmons Plains ASBK round winner Allerton on an official Honda-supported CBR1000RR Fireblade, Stauffer will make his return to a traditional inline four-cylinder for the first time in two seasons.

Recent rumours have had Allerton on the shortlist for a return to Motologic, the team he won the championship with in 2008, although he’s also contracted to contest the single round Australasian FX Superbike Championship with the factory Yamaha Racing Team.

MotoOnline.com.au contacted Free this afternoon, the former racer turned team owner declining to comment on Honda’s 6 Hour entry.

Stay tuned for an update on this breaking story when we find out more.

The Honda Racing team is in addition to the defending champion GAS Honda Racing effort of Wayne Maxwell and BSB regular Josh Brookes, while Team Suzuki will field last year’s ASBK champion Josh Waters alongside Shawn Giles in another official factory entry.