MotoGP: Third Yamaha for Nakasuga at Motegi

Yamaha has announced that it will run a third factory bike for test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga in the Japanese MotoGP round at Motegi in October.

Multiple Japanese Superbike champion Nakasuga has generally appeared in MotoGP as injury cover for Yamaha, standing in for Jorge Lorenzo in the final races of 2011 and for Ben Spies a year later.

That 2012 stint included a shock second place finish in the season finale at Valencia, which he described at the time as "a miracle."

"I'm glad to be able to compete again this year in my home country's grand prix of Japan in the world's pinnacle class of road racing, MotoGP," said Nakasuga. "There's no greater competitive arena for a motorcycle racer like myself.

"Since I'll be riding the YZR-M1 that I'm involved in developing as a test rider, my participation will naturally involve development evaluation. But I also want to put in a Katsuyuki Nakasuga-style performance that will live up to the expectations of the fans that have rooted for me."

Nakasuga's last MotoGP race was as a wildcard for Yamaha at Motegi last year, when he finished 11th.