Kiwi Ben Townley is a pre-season title favourite for the MX Nationals. Image: Graeme Baynes/Watchbox Images.

Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing team owner Yarrive Konsky has highlighted the importance of the team’s success in the 2012 Australian motocross and supercross championships.

The world-class Melbourne-based team has signed former world champion Ben Townley alongside current British champion Brad Anderson for their Pro Open campaign this year, with no expense spared in search of a national title.

“It’s imperative [that we win], especially in tough economic climates,” Konsky told MotoOnline. “We have to prove to our sponsors our worth.

“Unfortunately, a championship has eluded our race team since 2008, even though we’ve come incredibly close with a second in supercross and a third in the Lites outdoors.”

Konsky’s team captured the Australian Superbike Championship for Honda in 2010 with Bryan Staring at the controls, however it’s the motocross and supercross titles that he wants to make count.

“Winning a superbike championship is the only thing our race team has won in the past four years, which although was a thrilling victory, it wasn’t originally what we were hired to do,” he added.

“Going into our sixth year, it’s extremely important that we win. And if we don’t win, then we need to consciously know that we’ve put our best efforts forward to win.”

The team will also feature Australian Ford Dale in the Pro Lites ranks aboard the CRF250R.