De Angelis is one of four riders making their debut in MotoGP this season - but the 24-year-old is the only man in the entire field to hail from San Marino.

He came third in the last two 250cc world championships.

In contrast, Nakano, 30, has had six seasons in MotoGP and claimed three podium finishes, with two of them coming on a Kawasaki that was still in development.

Nakano is the only Japanese rider on the grid this season.