Ben Townley will debut Shift and Fox with Honda Racing in NZ this weekend. Image: MadMax Photography.

2003 was a landmark year for Honda Racing with the Full Throttle Sports team making its national supercross and motocross debut.

Backed by Shift MX, the team finished second in the Australian Supercross Open Championship and second in the Australian Motocross Lites Championship.

A decade has passed but 2013 is already shaping up to be an historic year with Honda Racing confirming it will reunite with the leading global moto brand for the 2013 season.

Shift MX joins the championship-winning outfit as the official apparel supplier, providing race wear from the impressive 2013 range. Riders Ben Townley and Ford Dale will also don the innovative Fox V4 helmets.

The Carlton Dry Honda Racing team riders are excited by the new signing with Townley set to debut the new race wear and helmet in his first race meeting for 2013 at Woodville this weekend.

“This weekend is very important to the team as we continue to develop the new bike but it is also a great opportunity to show off the new Shift MX race wear,” Townley explained.

“I am no different to a kid getting new gear for Christmas, I still get excited and the new Shift gear and Fox V4 helmet hasn’t disappointed.

“We had a great day shooting and I am happy with everything, especially how my new helmet turned out.”

In preparation for 2013 season the Carlton Dry Honda Racing Team will contest select races in New Zealand with Townley opening his 2013 campaign this coming weekend.

Honda Motorcycles’ Tony Hinton looks forward to the new partnership.

“Shift MX and Fox have been very proactive with their involvement with Chad Reed,” Hinton said. “To be working with them on our domestic team makes perfect sense.

“They understand the market and are culturally well accepted. This season is important to us with the new model 450 and from the photos the gear looks like the perfect fit for Honda Racing.”

Launching into Australia in the late 1990’s Shift MX has grown to become one of the most prominent global moto brands.

Shift MX Australia’s athlete manager Mick Sinclair acknowledged the Carlton Dry Honda Racing Team as one of the most professional outfits in the sport and said he was excited by the new partnership.

“When the opportunity to be involved with the Carlton Dry Honda Racing Team became available SHIFT MX and FOX were excited and eager to be a part of it,” Sinclair said.

“Knowing their program and working with world champion Ben Townley and 2012 MX2 Australian Motocross Champion Ford Dale was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss out on.

“Shift MX, Fox and Monza Imports want to welcome the team, riders, Carlton Dry and Honda Racing to the fold and we look forward to many successful seasons ahead,” Sinclair concluded.

The Carlton Dry Honda Racing Team will run Shift MX race wear and the innovative Fox V4 Helmets throughout the 2013 season.