Honda has decided to increase their partecipation in their home race at the Twin Ring Motegi (owned by the Japanese manufacturer) next month ,and will be fielding two well known Japanese riders for the 14th round of the season, which will bring the field, for the first time up to 19 riders.
However don’t expect to see two young and promising Japanese riders, because they’ll be giving test riders Shinichi Ito (44) and Kousuke Akiyoshi (36) the chance to race in MotoGP.
Honda will be pulling out a fourth factory bike for Ito who will be fielded alongside Repsol Honda regulars Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa, while Akiyoshi will be with LCR Honda with Toni Elias, which we believe will be using Elias’ spare bike, just like Ben Bostrom did when he raced for Lucio Cecchinello’s team at Laguna Seca.
“Through their participation in the Japanese Grand Prix, HRC hope to bring courage and show support for the East Japan area,” said Honda’s statement.
Akiyoshi who won the Suzuka 8 Hours this year with Ryuichi Kiyonari, and Shinichi Ito with the FCC TSR Honda team, took over for Hiroshi Aoyama when the Gresini rider was moved to Repsol Honda to sub for injured Dani Pedrosa at Assen.
Photo via motogp.
com