Source: Supplied.

Japanese talent Kohta Nozane has been named as replacement of German MotoGP rookie Jonas Folger at Monster Yamaha Tech3 in this weekend’s Japanese grand prix at Motegi.

With Folger returning home for further medical evaluations after he was ruled out of the first flyaway round, 21-year-old local Nozane has been called in to ride his YZR-M1.

“This is big surprise for me!” Nozane said. “I still can’t believe that I will ride at the Grand Prix of Japan. Motegi is my favourite circuit and I have ridden the YZR-M1 with Michelin tyres here before as a Yamaha test rider. It will be an honour to ride on home soil like a MotoGP rider – I would like to thank Yamaha and Monster Yamaha Tech3 for giving me this opportunity.”

A former Japanese GP2 champion, Nozane is a regular in the All-Japan Superbike Championship with Yamaha and also contests the Endurance World Championship alongside Australian Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz at the YART Yamaha Official EWC Team.

Nozane won’t be the only top-level Japanese Yamaha rider on the grid this weekend, as standout MotoGP test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga will line up as a wildcard entrant. Nakasuga, who has played a lead role in Yamaha’s success at the Suzuka 8 Hours, has raced the Motegi GP every year since 2012.