Twice MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner will make a return to competition at the Suzuka Eight-Hours endurance race, replacing Leon Haslam in the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO squad which has been victorious for the past two years.

Stoner, who will partner Michael Van Der Mark and HRC test rider Takumi Takahashi, rode the bike at Sepang in January and said that the Eight-Hours was an even he always considered but could never fit into his schedule.

“After riding the bike in Sepang a few months ago, I’ve been speaking closely with Honda about the possibility to take part in Suzuka. It’s always been an event I wanted to do and something I was never able to consider when I was racing in MotoGP, due to our busy schedules, so I’m really looking forward to taking part,” said the Australian.

“The bike is very different to a MotoGP machine, but it will be a new challenge and a chance for me to try something new and unlike what I’ve been used to in my racing to this point. I’ve been impressed with Michael van der Mark this season and Takumi Takahashi has a lot of experience on this machine, so I’m looking forward to hearing their comments and working together with them in preparation for the July race. Now I need to concentrate on my training to be ready for the race.”