MotoGP: Stoner to return to racing for Suzuka

Two-time MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner will make a comeback to racing at this year's Suzuka 8 Hours in July.

Stoner stunned the MotoGP paddock by retiring at the end of the 2012 season, aged 27. He later became part of Honda's test roster, and will team up with World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark and fellow Honda tester Takumi Takahashi aboard a CBR1000RR at Suzuka.

Stoner, who won the MotoGP title in 2007 and '11, tested the bike at Sepang back in January.

"After riding the bike in Sepang a few months ago, I've been speaking closely with Honda about the possibility to take part in Suzuka," said Stoner. "It's always been an event I wanted to do and something I was never able to consider when I was racing in MotoGP, due to our busy schedules.

"The bike is very different to a MotoGP machine, but it will be a new challenge and a chance for me to try something new and unlike what I've been used to in my racing to this point.

"I've been impressed with Michael van der Mark this season and Takumi Takahashi has a lot of experience on this machine, so I'm looking forward to hearing their comments and working together with them in preparation for the July race. Now I need to concentrate on my training to be ready for the race."

Stoner will have a further four days of testing on the CBR1000RR before the July 26 race. His teammates van der Mark and Takahashi have won the Suzuka event for the past two years alongside Leon Haslam.

Originally on Autosport.com