Motegi MotoGP: Yuki Takahashi makes MotoGP switch

Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi has confirmed he will quit the world 250 championship at the end of the year to join MotoGP.

Takahashi will ride for the Scot Racing Team Honda, which is a new outfit following Scot’s split from JIR.

JIR boss Gianluca Montiron had earlier confirmed his exit from MotoGP having failed to secure the lease of an RC212V machine. He claims to have been told by Honda back in July that he had priority to lease an RC212V, despite his split from Scot.

Scot’s willingness to run Takahashi though heavily tipped the balance in its favour, with Honda always preferring to run one at least one Japanese rider in its six-strong MotoGP effort.

Takahashi said: “I started to run in the 250 world championship with the Scot Racing Team Honda, and next year will begin another season together, our debut in MotoGP.

“To me this is a dream realised because when I started as a child, I did not think that I would come up to here, but it’s always been my goal as a pilot. I am grateful to Honda with who today reached an important milestone. This is a starting point towards other goals to share together.”