The Red Bull Honda World Superbike outfit has revealed it will draft in Japanese rider Takumi Takahashi for the Portimao and Jerez rounds of the 2017 Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

The 27-year-old will join Jake Gagne and Davide Giugliano as guest riders who have fulfilled the vacant spot opened up by the late Nicky Hayden, where he’ll race alongside team regular Stefan Bradl.

“I’m honoured,” said Takahashi. “As a rider who has continuously fought to race on the world stage, that my achievements and experience have been recognised and I have been given the opportunity to race in the World Superbike Championship.

“I’ll use all of the experience I’ve gained racing the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 in the All-Japan championship to aim high and contribute to the team. I’d like to ride my best in front of the World Superbike fans, so I hope they’ll look forward to seeing me.”

Takahashi is an official test rider of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and has vast experience with the CBR1000RR Fireblade, winning the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race three times with the model, and also the JSB1000 class of the MFJ All-Japan Road Race Championship Series (JRR) with the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO Honda team

The Portimao and Jerez rounds are respectively scheduled for 15-17 September and 20-22 October and will be the 10th and 12th stops of the series.