Takaaki Nakagami will step in for the injured Luca Marini at the upcoming MotoGP Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, riding for the factory Honda team.

Marini is currently recovering from serious injuries he suffered in May during a test for the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in Japan. Because of those injuries, he won’t be able to compete in the Italian round of the championship.

At the last race in Aragon, Honda used a rule that allowed them to race with just one rider and didn’t replace Marini. But for the Italian GP, MotoGP regulations now require Honda to have a second rider, so they’ve decided to bring back Nakagami for the event.

Even though his name wasn’t originally listed on the official entry sheet, it’s been confirmed that Nakagami will ride alongside Joan Mir.

Nakagami had officially retired as a full-time MotoGP rider at the end of last season. Since then, he has been working as a test rider for Honda Racing Corporation. During his career, he had always raced for the LCR Honda team, making this his first time racing for the Honda factory team.

Earlier this year, Nakagami raced as a wildcard entry in the French Grand Prix, where he delivered a strong performance. He finished sixth, thanks to smart tire strategy and a perfectly timed bike change during a flag-to-flag race that featured two starts due to changing weather.

If Marini’s injury keeps him out for more races, Honda may consider other replacement options, including Aleix Espargaro, who has three MotoGP wins to his name. But for now, the team is turning to the experienced Nakagami and hopes he will fill the gap in Mugello.