Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Team Honda Racing will take over Honda Australia’s factory motocross and supercross operation in 2016, consolidating the official racing program to operate out of Motologic’s Melbourne-based facility.

Motologic has been been heading Honda’s factory superbike effort, Team Honda Racing, during its operating years since 2007, winning multiple national championships in that period including this year with Troy Herfoss.

Team manager Paul Free, himself a former factory superbike racer, was first hired by Honda to run its in-house factory team in 2002 before later taking ownership of the program through his Motologic business.

“I am really looking forward to the new challenges of running both teams,” Free explained. “I carry a lot of experience in the road sector of racing, so I am very comfortable with where our team is placed there. I don’t have a lot of experience in the motocross and supercross arena and understand it is a steep learning curve, but I am looking forward to bringing it all together.

“My goal is to create an off-road team of riders and staff that enjoy working together around the Honda brand as much as my road team currently does. Preparations are well underway and we look forward to the 2016 racing season.”

The team is yet to announced its factory motocross/supercross rider line-up – tipped to be the youthful combination of MX2 national champion Jay Wilson and Dylan Long in the 450 class – or its superbike signings at this point.

Longtime Honda motocross and supercross team owner Yarrive Konsky announced late last week he has taken up a role with Erebus Motorsport in V8 Supercars, but intends to field a Honda-supported team in next year’s Australian Supercross Championship.