Confirmed: Itoh to replace Capirossi in Turkey.

The Ducati Marlboro Team has told Crash.net that Bridgestone test rider Shinichi Itoh will ride the injured Loris Capirossi's factory Desmosedici GP5 in this weekend's inaugural Turkish Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Itoh raced in 500GP continuously from 1989 to 1996 with Honda, claiming six podium finishes and a best championship position of fifth (1995), before retiring from full time world championship racing to act as a test rider for Honda and Bridgestone.

His last GP appearances came as a wild-card in 2002, when he finished fourth in the season-opening Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka for HRC and then retired from the Australian Grand Prix later in the season, while riding for Kanemoto Honda.

Itoh continued to develop Bridgestone's MotoGP tyres for Honda rider Makoto Tamada from 2003 onwards, but with double 2004 race winner Tamada switching to Michelins for 2005 there was no longer a Honda rider using Bridgestone tyres.

However, Itoh was soon signed by new Bridgestone team Ducati Marlboro after the two companies' set-up a special Tyre Test Team - with Itoh as the sole rider - to help develop the Desmosedici/Bridgestone partnership.

After a difficult start, Ducati and Bridgestone have scored two race wins and three pole positions - courtesy of Capirossi - so far this season, while Carlos Checa - who will ride alongside Itoh at Istanbul - has claimed two podiums in the last three rounds.

Although Istanbul will mark Itoh's first race for Ducati, his hopes will be boosted by the fact that no other MotoGP rider has prior knowledge of the new for 2005 race track.

Former 500cc star, and current Ducati two-seater rider, Randy Mamola, was the only other name linked with the ride, but the American - who retired from full time GP competition at the end of 1992 - felt he would lack the fitness needed to go flat out for a full race distance.

Capirossi, who suffered internal bleeding following a high-speed Friday fall at Phillip Island, is due to return to action at the Valencia season-finale on November 6.