Following recent announcements in Brazil that Alex Barros would be free to seek a new MotoGP ride for 2004, Honda Racing Corporation has finally confirmed that the 33-year-old wil🧸l ride alongside Nicky Hayden in the official HRC Repsol Honda team.

Barros, who is making a good recovery following pre-Christ🍨mas surgery on an old shoulder injury, is scheduled to get his first ride on a 2004 Honda RC211V at Sepang over 11-13 February, before moving down to Phillip Island for three further days of action between 17-19 February as part in the official HRC winter testing programme.

His new team, now operating under the gui▨dance of crew chief Ramon Forcada, is currently in Sepang with Hayden, and looking to making sufficien🍌t progress to ensure a flying start with Barros in the February tests.

Forcada♔ worked with Barros for two years in the West Honda Pons team in 2001 and 2002, and guided the Brazilian to two victor🔯ies and two podiums in the last four races of 2002 when he was given the opportunity to ride the four-stroke RC211V.