Nakasuga gets Yamaha wild card ride at Motegi

Katsuyuki Nakasuga will make his fifth successive appearance in the Japanese MotoGP, as a wild-card on a YZR-M1 for the factory Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team. The four-time consecutive winner of the All Japan Road Race Championship JSB1000 title finished eighth at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit last season.

Nakasuga will be racing for the seventh time in the premier-class, with his best result to date a second place at Valencia in 2012.

He has dominated the All Japan Superbike class this year and is currently on a 10-race pole and victory streak for the Yamaha Factory Racing as he closes in on a fifth successive title.

In July, Nakasuga teamed up with MotoGP regular Pol Espargaro and World Superbike rider Alex Lowes to successfully defend Yamaha’s Suzuka 8 Hours crown.

“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,” said Nakasuga, who is a development and test rider for the YZR-M1.

“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. Please come and cheer us on at the race, and let’s make this year’s Grand Prix of Japan an amazing one.