Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Nobuatsu Aoki, who has ridden for Kenny Leroy Roberts’ Proton Team KR MotoGP team since 2002, will serve as a test rider for the Suzuki MotoGP team and may race the Suzuki GSV-R as a wildcard in 2005, according to a translation of a posting on Aoki’s website.

Aoki wrote that he has already tested the GSV-R in Japan and plans to attend another test with the Suzuki MotoGP team at Sepang, in Malaysia, next week.

Proton Team KR plans to test at Jerez, Spain, next week using a KTM V4 engine in the team’s existing chassis. Kurtis Roberts is scheduled to ride at the test even though he has not committed to the team for 2005.

Proton Team KR also plans to use the test to decide whether it will stay with Dunlop tires or switch to another brand next season.