Factory teams are likely non-starters for the Phillip Island 360 ASBK support event. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Australia’s leading Superbike teams are unlikely to feature on the grid next month when a scheduled non-championship ASBK event takes place alongside the Phillip Island 360 V8 Supercars Championship round.

Team Suzuki, Next Gen Motorsports BMW and Team Honda Racing have all confirmed to CycleOnline.com.au this afternoon that late confirmation from International Entertainment Group (IEG) has effectively ruled them out of the running.

The event is scheduled for 22-24 November at the world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, included in the Support Category line-up on the official V8 Supercars website alongside the Touring Car Masters and Formula Ford categories.

Team Suzuki, winner of the past two Australian Superbike Championships including 2013 with Wayne Maxwell, will be absent from the event according to team manager Phil Tainton after the team spent the last of its allocated budget at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix last weekend.

“It was on, it was off, it was on, it was off, and so we spent our money,” Tainton said. “Now, in the last few days, they decide it’s back on. We should be told at the beginning of the year, the calendar should be set and we could budget for it.”

Team Honda Racing principal Paul Free also confirmed its line-up of Jamie Stauffer and Josh Hook wouldn’t be on the grid at this point, largely due to the uncertainty of the event despite Free being a major advocate of two-plus-four meetings.

“Right at the moment we are not planning on competing at that event,” Free explained. “We’ve been asking constantly all year whether it’s been on or not. Even at Phillip Island’s last round of the championship we asked again and the answer wasn’t positive.

“You could only take that as no it’s not happening, so we discounted it at that point. At this stage we won’t be there.”

Both Tainton and Free estimated the event would cost their Victorian-based teams an additional $20,000-$25,000 to attend with two riders.

Next Gen Motorsports’ Nathan Webb said their privately-run Victorian team also hadn’t budgeted for the event due to late notice.

“At this stage no,” Webb commented. “We are getting no support as we were not aware the round was on…”

IEG is yet to respond or confirm the event since contacted by CycleOnline.com.au on Thursday afternoon. Information on the event isn’t currently listed on the official ASBK website.