Retired MotoGP champion Casey Stoner will return to competitive racing in July to contest the Suzuka 8-Hour in Japan.

Honda said on Friday Stoner would join their three-man MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team, as the manufacturer chased its sixth consecutive win at the prestigious two-wheel endurance event.

He will share duties with World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark and Takumi Takahashi, who together have won the past two races.

Stoner has been a regular test rider for Honda since retiring from MotoGP at the end of 2012.

“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,” the 29-year-old said.

“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.”

Stoner said the bike, the Suzuka CBR1000RR, was very different to a MotoGP machine, but labelled it a “new challenge and a chance for me to try something new and unlike what I’ve been used to in my racing”.

“Now I need to concentrate on my training to be ready for the race,” he said.

Team principal Shigeki Honda said he was very happy to have the “legendary” Stoner join the outfit.

“We believe that with his fantastic experience, coupled with our team’s know-how after many years of involvement at this event, we can make our dreams come true,” he said.

Stoner will get another four days to test the bike before the race on July 26.