Stoner to enter Suzuka eight hours race

Honda MotoGP rider Casey Stoner of Australia races during the Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo racetrack in Cheste, near Valencia November 11, 2012. REUTERS/Heino Kalis

(Reuters) - Double MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner will return to competition when he enters the Suzuka eight hours endurance race with a three-rider Honda team in July.

"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 Australian said in a statement on Friday.