Image: Andrew Gosling.

Team Honda Racing could firm up its 2014 racing program as soon as tomorrow (Tuesday), anticipated to be the latest team to switch to the Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC).

A mainstay in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) run by Victorian-based performance company Motologic, Honda’s future is within “the ASC or nothing” according to team owner Paul Free.

Next Gen Motorsports announced late Sunday afternoon that it will turn its attention to the ASC this season, just weeks following the revelation that Team Suzuki won’t go racing unless Phil Tainton Racing can source expansive outside sponsorship.

With Honda’s top two rivals out of the ASBK series for this season, Free admits that despite a promising initial program released by ASBK organisers, the ASC is Team Honda Racing’s lone option if they opt to continue.

“There’s only two choices now outside of the World Superbikes and grand prix, which I’ve always said we would do,” Free explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “The only choice now is to do the ASC or nothing.

“Our choice has always been to do the ASBK and especially the high profile V8 events, as we know from Honda’s market research that a large number of their customers are watching or attending those events, but if that option’s not there then it’s [ASC] or nothing.”

Sources suggest that Free is looking to retain Honda’s 2013 combination of two-time ASBK champion Jamie Stauffer and rising star Josh Hook, however reigning ASBK champion and longtime Honda team member Wayne Maxwell has also been linked to the program.

Free was unable to confirm the team’s rider line-up, focusing on finalising the team’s future before committing the team’s CBR1000RR Fireblades for the new season.

Ongoing discussions between Free and Honda Australia are due to continue tomorrow as the team works through its budgetary restraints considering the recent turn of events.