New Team Honda Racing signings Maxwell and Stauffer compare notes during pre-season testing.

The newly formed Team Honda Racing Australian Superbike Championship team has continued its preparation for season 2011 in a two-day test at Phillip Island last week.

Honda Australia’s factory domestic Superbike squad, featuring Wayne Maxwell and Jamie Stauffer, is currently developing a Motec system for its Fireblades, as well as SMART suspension components for the new year.

“Duane Mitchell from Motec has attended both the tests and I am really excited by what we have achieved in such a short space of time,” team manager Paul Free said.

“Our SMART shock and fork parts are working well around the Dunlop control tyres and giving both riders exceptional confidence and feel.

“The team is working extremely well together and although this second test does not place us quite as far advanced as I had hoped it was certainly a success and with another test planned on the 15th prior to our first round, I feel very confident that Jamie and Wayne will both be very competitive come round one.”

Current national number two Maxwell is pleased with the team’s progress to date following tests at the Island and Eastern Creek.

“The test at Phillip Island was an improvement on my first test at Eastern Creek in January and we made a lot of steps forward which I’m really happy about,” Maxwell said.

“The final test before our first round at the World Superbikes will give us the chance to make the final steps in development of the CBR1000RR11 and I know we will be very competitive for the first round.”

Dual ASBK champion Stauffer is equally pleased with the team’s efforts in the switch from Ducati to Honda.

“We had a chance to try a lot of different bike settings at this second test to see what works best with the new control tyre at Phillip Island and I think we are getting very close now,” Stauffer added.

“Overall I think the test was a success, most of all it gave me a lot more time to get to know the Honda before we race it at the end of the month”

The final pre-season test for Team Honda Racing prior to round one at Phillip Island will be at the official practice day being held by IEG on 15 February.