Japan's Shinya Nakano will replace compatriot Norick Abe as sole MotoGP rider at d'Antin Yamaha next season.

Nakano, the 500cc rookie of the year in 2001, rode for the re-named Tech 3 Yamaha team last season but lost his place there to Brazilian Alex Barros.

The 25-year-old Japanese will be the Spanish-based works-backed team's sole championship entry.

Abe drops down to a testing role and occasional races as a wild card.

Nicky Hayden survived a crash to complete a two-day test session with Honda team-mates Daijiro Kato and Tohru Ukawa in Spain.

Sore head

The American Superbike Champion joined his two Japanese colleagues at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit near Valencia for a day of tyre testing.

Despite suffering a sore head in the fall Hayden was able to continue.

Ukawa completed 104 laps and posted the best time of the day with a lap of one minute 33.7 seconds.

Kato lapped in 1:34.54 from a total of 50 laps and Hayden completed 55 circuits with a best time of 1:35.50.

Honda now head south to Jerez to continue testing where they will be joined by reigning MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi.