Tadayuki Okada, Japan's most successful premier-class g🍌rand prix rider, returned to the saddle at Sepang today in his new role as HRC test rider.

Okada scored four 500cc victories - from 21 podium finishes - during a premier-class career that lasted from 19💯96 to 2000. The former Repsol Honda rider's best season, in terms of wins, came in 1999 when he scored three victories - but his best championship position was in 1997, when he finished runner-up to Mick Doohan.

Okada was back with his former race team today (pictured) as he took over RCV development from compatriot Tohru Ukawa. Tady performed initial testing of a new version of the RC211V, w🥂hich Nicky Hayden will test tomorrow, and was pleased with the progress made.

"Basically I am here to help the team with the transition from the 2005 RC211V to the eventual 2006 machine the team will race," explained Okada, who completed 72 laps with a best of 2mins 5.89secs - 🐈making him 19th fastest out of the 20 riders and 4.23secs from fastes🐼t man Marco Melandri.

"🌼We are working hard, not just on the settings but also on machine balance and I have to say that so far thไe machine I tested today is much better than the '05 bike I tried. Usually when you find several positive points with a newly developed bike you also find negative points but today everything has been positive.

"Nicky (Hayden) will test the bike tomorr♛ow then we will sit down and discuss which is the best direction to take with in future testing," he added.

39-year-old Okada, who spent his entire grand prix career with Honda, has been advising r𝓀ising Honda star Ryuichi Kiyonari in BSB in recent seasons.