MOTOGP: Yamaha adds Motegi wild-card entry

Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga will race as a wild card in the manufacturer's home MotoGP race at Motegi next month.

The Japanese rider has contested the race each year since 2012, finishing eighth last year, while he has also raced at Valencia twice, finishing second in 2012.

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He has won the Suzuka 8 Hours two years running with Tech3 Yamaha MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro, the pair joined by Bradley Smith in 2015 and Alex Lowes – currently standing in for the injured Smith at Tech3 – earlier this year.

Nakasuga leads the All Japan Road Race Championship for Yamaha and is seeking a seventh title in that class.

"Last year I improved on my best result at the Grand Prix of Japan when I took a top 10 finish, and I was able to show how much both the YZR-M1 and I had improved," Nakasuga said. "This year I'll again be participating as part of my development duties with the M1, but I look at it as a once-in-a-year chance to give my absolute maximum and test my skills against the world's top riders.

"Last year I was able to battle with my Suzuka 8 Hour team-mates Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith in the race, and this year my goal is to be in a position to battle with those guys again."

Originally on Autosport.com