Source: MotoGP.

Honda Racing Corporation has confirmed the signing of Hiroshi Aoyama as a test rider for 2015.

The first step of this new project will see Aoyama riding the new Honda Open class bike with a pneumatic valve engine – the RC213V-RS – in Valencia this weekend for his final race with the Drive M7 Aspar team.

Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC executive vice president, commented: “We are very pleased to confirm Hiro as a test rider for next year. He’s done a very good job this year and especially in these final races.

“This is an important project for HRC and we believe that he will be a valued addition for the development of HRC machines in the future. We have a long relationship with Hiro, and we look forward to continuing this into the future.”

In next week’s three-day test at Valencia the 2015 RC213V-RS machine will be shared between Karel Abraham and Nicky Hayden.