Katsuyuki Nakasuga will make his latest wild-card appearance, riding a fifth Factory c🌳lass Yamaha, in t🌳his weekend's Japanese MotoGP at Motegi.

Nakasuga is involved in the development of the YZR-M1 and has made sꦇeven occasional grand prix starts stretching back to 2002.

Four🧔 of those have been in the premier-class, including his most famous performance - a secondꦓ place, from 16th on the grid, during changeable weather at the 2012 Valencia round.

This time he will be entered as a member of the 'Yamalube Racing Team with YSP' with his main goal being to evaluate the latest M1 develo꧅pments in actual race conditions.

"I'm glad to be able to compete again this year in my home country's Grand Prix of Japan𝓰 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 Nakasug๊a' style performance tha🎐t will live up to the expectations of the fans that have rooted for me.

"I hope everyone will ꦡcome to the circuit to cheer me on."

Nakasuga, 33, is a fourไ-time champion of the JSB1000 class of the All Japan Road Race Championships (2008, 2009, 2012, 2013), and he is competing again this year with the aim of winning his third consecutive title in this class.

The four full-time M1 riders are Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at the official team, plus ജPol Espargaro and Bradleyꦗ Smith at Tech 3.