After making wild-card appearances from 2001 to 2005, HRC-backed Shuhei rode his first full 250GP season in 2006, with Repsol Honda, and took his first podium in round five at Le Mans.

However, the 23-year-old didn't return to the podium during the rest of 2006 or at all in 2007 - when he remained at the Repsol team and claimed a debut pole position at Motegi - and has now moved to the Alto Evolution Honda WSBK team, where he will ride a CBR1000RR alongside Luca Morelli.

26-year-old Hiroshi, a former Honda rider and five-times 250GP winner, will start his third season with KTM in 2008.