Honda World Superbike star Jonathan Rea will miss the Adelaide Motorcycle Awards in Belfast on Friday as he embarks on a three-day test shakedown at Phillip Island in Australia today.

Rea and his new team-mate, ex-MotoGP ace Hiroshi Aoyama, will test the new 2012-specification Honda CBR-1000RR Fireblade for the first time at the picturesque venue down under, which hosts the opening round of the World Superbike Championship next month.

It means Rea will miss the glittering bash at the Ramada Hotel, although his fellow World Superbike competitor Eugene Laverty - who won the prestigious Joey Dunlop Trophy after being named the Enkalon Irish Motorcyclist of the Year in 2011 - has returned home from holiday in America in time for the gala occasion.

Laverty faces tough opposition to regain the accolade on Friday evening, with Tyco Suzuki British Superbike rider and reigning British Supersport champion Alastair Seeley favourite to scoop the award for the first time.

Rea, whose championship challenge last season was wrecked following a crash at Misano that left him with a complex wrist injury, can’t wait to return to action today following the winter testing ban.

Speaking on his Twitter account, the 24-year-old - who was named the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year at the Adelaide Irish Racer Awards last January, said: “Team has arrived on Phillip Island and everyone is pumped!”

Honda’s legendary Fireblade is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012 and the iconic Japanese manufacturer will be striving to mark the milestone in fairytale style by landing the world title this season.

Rea is determined to make amends after his injury nightmare and with Aoyama providing the Ten Kate Racing team with added impetus, Honda will be hopeful of mounting a sustained assault on the World Superbike crown.

The team has received a timely boost with the confirmation that oil giants Castrol will remain on board as a key secondary sponsor until the end of 2013.

The company renewed its association with Honda last year to relaunch its ‘Power 1’ brand as part of a worldwide marketing initiative.

Castrol and Honda have a long-standing relationship that stretches back to 1959, when Honda took its first steps into world championship racing.

Robert Watherston, motorcycle racing manager at Honda Motor Europe, said: “We’re delighted that Castrol has decided to continue its long-standing association with Honda and, in particular, our World Superbike campaign.

“We are especially pleased to have signed a two-year agreement, which takes us to the end of the 2013 season.”