Maxwell is confident he can get his ASBK title hopes back on track at the final two rounds of the season.

Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing’s Wayne Maxwell is adamant that his Australian Superbike Championship challenge isn’t yet over despite fellow Honda rider Bryan Staring stretching an 18.5-point lead following a four-race win streak at Queensland Raceway last weekend.

Maxwell was on track to claim his maiden ASBK crown last season before a vicious highside forced him out while leading the Phillip Island finale, and he looks forward to returning to the Victorian-based circuit next month for the penultimate round of 2010.

“We’re still in the championship hunt so I look forward to getting out of here and moving to Phillip Island,” Maxwell said.

While Staring is the man of the moment after dominating in the Sunshine State, 27-year-old Maxwell says it’s at this point that he needs to put his head down in a bid to capture the championship if he’s going to do so this season.

“We’re just going to push from this point,” he told MotoOnline. “I’m going to train harder than I’ve ever trained and we’re going to work on the bike considering we’ve done no testing at all. We’re going to make me more comfortable on the bike and when I’m comfortable people have seen what happens.

“Bryan’s at his best now and hats off to him as well as his team because they’ve done an awesome job, but I’m not going to let him win it easy if he’s going to win it, that’s for sure.”

Maxwell finished third overall last weekend at Queensland Raceway’s second round in succession, switching to the lower profile 190/55R17 Dunlop control tyre for race two and showing improved form to round out the weekend.

The Phillip Island round of the Viking Group ASBK series will take place on 10-12 September.