Image: Andrew Gosling.

Two-time Australian Superbike Champion Jamie Stauffer is entering this weekend’s first round of the Phillip Island Championship injury-free after a painful pelvis injury hampered much of his 2013 campaign.

The 34-year-old returns to Team Honda Racing for a fourth consecutive season – and fifth with Paul Free’s Motologic crew – impressed with the new combination of Honda’s upgraded 2014 CBR1000RR SP and Pirelli tyres.

Stauffer was second fastest behind junior teammate Josh Hook in domestic testing at Phillip Island last week, in what was the team’s first outing with the SP model.

Honda will use Pirelli tyres at the Phillip Island event before switching back to Dunlop’s control tyre in the Australasian Superbike Championship, the test marking Stauffer’s first appearance on the Italian rubber since his WSBK wildcard last season.

“I feel strong going into the 2014 season and my injury from last year is basically healed,” Stauffer explained. “I haven’t had a lot of time on the bike over the off-season so the test here recently was just what I needed.

“The new Honda CBR1000RR SP is a great package, I’m really impressed. The Pirelli tyres are working really well, although the circuit didn’t seem to offer a lot of grip on the second day of the test so hopefully we can find more speed at the event on the weekend.

“The World Superbike event will be a terrific way to start the year with Team Honda Racing and I am really excited to get the season underway.”

The Phillip Island Championship season-opener will be hosted alongside the opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship on 21-23 February.