Britain’s Alex Lowes will take Bradley Smith’s spot in the factory Yamaha squad for the 2016 Suzuka Eight-Hours, joining last year’s winners Pol Espargaro and Kats Nakasuga as they attempt to bag another victory.

Lowes, who is currently recovering from a collarbone operation which put him out of last weekend’s Donington World Superbike round, has a year’s experience of the gruelling race and he briefly led with the Yoshimura Suzuki team last year.