Pata Yamaha WorldSBK star Michael Van Der Mark has been drafted in to join team-mate Alex Lowes and test rider Kats Nakasuga in the works Yamaha Suzuka Eight-Hours team.
The Dutchman has already been victorious alongside Leon Haslam at the prestigious endurance race and replaces Pol Espargaro, who has moved to KTM in MotoGP.
"I'm really looking forward to racing at the Suzuka Eight-Hours again. I’ve been racing there for four years now and won two times, so it will be a really special event for me to come back and do it with Yamaha.
"We have a really strong team so I'm going to give everything I've got to try and win again and make it really special for Yamaha and for all the fans."
