Wayne Maxwell will officially ride for Team Suzuki in 2013.

Team Suzuki will defend its Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) title with Wayne Maxwell in 2013, the experienced Victorian signing with the championship-winning squad to pilot a factory supported GSX-R1000 this season.

Maxwell, 30, finished runner-up last year behind former Team Suzuki rider Josh Waters in the ASBK series is now setting his sights on a first Australian Superbike title with Suzuki.

Team Suzuki will contest the seven-round ASBK championship in 2013 along with the World Superbike (WSBK) and MotoGP support races. Maxwell’s initial testing at Phillip Island has the team positive about his chances in this year’s championship.

“I’m very excited to be joining Team Suzuki for this season and to work with both Phil and Lynne Tainton is something I’m really looking forward to as well,” Maxwell commented. “I already feel really comfortable with the GSX-R1000 and the atmosphere within the team is really fantastic.

“I have a point to prove, so to have this opportunity with Team Suzuki and the Phil Tainton Racing team is unbelievable. Suzuki has a great legacy with success in superbike racing on a domestic level and it is my priority for 2013 to help the team in defending the title.”

Maxwell will replace former rival Waters at Suzuki, with the latter now embarking on an international career. Including Waters’ 2012 title, the combination of Suzuki Australia and Phil Tainton Racing has claimed 10 national championships since 1996 – five of those powered by the GSX-R1000.

Team manager Phil Tainton is excited for the challenge ahead in the new season, looking forward to Team Suzuki’s title defence with Maxwell at the helm.

“Wayne has been Josh’s biggest threat over a number of years, so now that he has moved onto an international career it was the logical choice to have Wayne join Team Suzuki,” Tainton explained. “We wish Josh the best in his endeavours overseas and we are very excited to have Wayne on board to claim another ASBK championship with Team Suzuki in 2013.

“We’re also pleased to continue our relationship with Dunlop tyres for this season as they have supported the team for as long as it’s existed.

“I don’t think it will take Wayne long to adapt to our race bike, we’ve had a lot of years developing the suspension and settings, so it’s all coming together very positively at this point. I am confident that we will hit the ground running and take it to the opposition from the outset.”

Team Suzuki’s maiden outing for the 2013 race season will be at Phillip Island’s WSBK in Victoria on 22-24 February.