Yamaha's test rider Kohta Nozane makes his WorldSBK debut in 2021 with GRT Yamaha, after replacing former WorldSSP runner-up in 2019 Federico Caricasulo, who moves back down to th𒁃e intermediate🅺 class for this year. 

With h🧸is preparations in full swing, the 25 year-old Japanese rider also got a taste of MotoGP action at the two recent Qatar tests alongside the team's factory riders and new test rider for 2021 Cal Crutchlow. 

This was not Nozane's first MotoGP ac🌃tion so far in his career however, as he completed🍨 a race for the team in 2017 at Motegi as a test rider. 

Yam🐲aha were one of the strongest teams at the test, with Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo looking in brill🍒iant form ahead of the new season. 

Nozane's efforts did not go unnoticed for the team, as Vinales&nb𒈔sp;and team manager Massimo Meregalli had positive things to say about his performance. 

Vinales said:&nb🐽sp;"I was able to talk to him. All of the Yamaha riders are really involved with each other to understand what they tried and what they꧃ are feeling.

"Nozane wa💝s improving day-by-day which is important as he is a young rider, but the M1 is very different to the R1. He did a good job on the M1 in MotoGP™, so for sure it will be a bit different going back to WorldSBK on the R1."

Nozane first burst onto the scene in the J-GP2 series back in 2013, as he claimed the title before claimin🅰g the JSB1000 championship in 2020; a title that secured him a move to W﷽orld Superbike.

Speaking about his efforts for the team over the six day♌s, Meregalli added: "This year, due to the difficult circumstances, we haven’t been able to make a proper shakedown test in Japan, nor ꦆin Spain.

"We have been forced t꧑o send the full testing squad to Qatar and🐽 luckily, Kohta could join. We had plenty to test and his support has been very, very important.

"So far, he has doಌne a really good job and hopefully, it will give him some advantage when it 🐭comes to his rookie WorldSBK season.”