Image: Russell Colvin.

Two-time Australasian Supersport Champion Rick Olson will make a much-anticipated return to racing at next weekend’s Mallala round of the 2015 series after securing a seat with Cessnock-backed dealership Kawasaki Connection.

Olson, who won the 2010 and 2013 Supersport (formerly FX600) titles, has been absent from competition to date this year after Yamaha opted not to renew his YRT with YMI contract following a five-year association.

Olson will debut a Kawasaki Connection ZX-6R at Mallala one round into the series, determined to regain his championship-winning form after what was a frustrating 2014 Superbike campaign on the aging previous YZF-R1.

“I’ll be on a Kawasaki in the 600 class and I’m really looking forward to it,” Olson told CycleOnline.com.au. “I haven’t ridden since November and it was all sort of last minute, like three days ago that it was organised.

“We want to try and do the whole season, but it depends on sponsorship for tyres, entry fees and those costs, because I’m not sure I will be able to do it all myself for the remainder of the year. We’ll see what I can do.”

Kawasaki Connection is owned and operated by Carl Walters, the father of 2013 Australasian Superbike Champion Matt Walters, who is currently fielding a ZX-10R once again in the Superbike ranks.