Image: Andy McGechan/BikesportNZ.com.

New Zealand’s Cody Cooper will spearhead Penrite Honda Racing Team’s 2014 Australian Motocross Championship campaign, aboard a factory-supported CRF450R in the MX1 category.

Cooper has been aboard a Honda in Ben Townley’s NZ team over the past months, heavily linked to Honda in Australia before today’s official confirmation.

A four-time NZ champion, Cooper will defend his Kiwi title this season with Honda before embarking on the Monster Energy MX Nationals following a four-year association with Suzuki.

“I am pretty excited about this year,” Cooper said. “I have been riding the Honda over here since October and I have been loving it. We have been doing a lot of testing and working with the team in Australia to make sure the bikes are identical. I am feeling really comfortable on the Honda and we will have our first race this weekend at the Woodville GP.”

Cooper will partner MX2 title contender Josh Cachia at Penrite Honda, making for a formidable streamlined combination after the team experienced an injury-rued last year.

“To have a rider of Cody Cooper’s calibre on our CRF450R and joining Josh Cachia in the team is really exciting for Honda,” Honda national marketing manager Glyn Griffiths explained.

“Cody has a long history with Honda and plenty of championship wins under his belt which is more than enough to convince us that in 2014 he is sure to achieve some great results.”

Cooper was last a factory Honda rider in Australia during 2007, the year before he transferred to the US for two seasons in 2008 and 2009.

“We have seen the raw talent and speed Cody has and we are excited to have him as part of the Penrite Oil Honda Racing team in 2014,” team manager Mike Landman said. “Cody is working with Ben in New Zealand so we know we will get greater consistency out of Cody this year. One of the key things we have been working on is ensuring that his race bike in NZ is identical to his race bike in Australia.”

Yesterday it was confirmed that lubricants giant Penrite would replace Carlton Dry as Honda’s title sponsor for the new year (click here for details).