Doohan confirms 2013 Race of Champions entry

Last year, the five-time premier class motorcycling champion partnered with V8 Supercar's Jamie Whincup, and will again share driving duties with the four-time (possibly five-time by the time of the RoC) champion this year.

Pitted against past champion Doohan last year was current MotoGP star, Jorge Lorenzo, who partnered Dane Tom Kristensen in an 'All Stars' team that triumphed over the Aussie duo in the semi-finals. Whether the Yamaha Factory Racing pilot will return for this year's event has yet to be confirmed.

In the individual races, Doohan made it to the quarter finals, but was knocked out by multiple Formula 1 champ Michael Schumacher.

Taking place in Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on 14-15 December, the 2013 Race of Champions will feature stars from across the motorsport world, including Schumacher, Kristensen and World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier.

"It's a real privilege to be coming back to the Race Of Champions and to have another chance to team up with Jamie, who lives near me on the Gold Coast," says Doohan. "Of course it's tough for a bike racer to come up against so many great drivers, but I'll be determined not to let the side down.

"I don't get too much competitive action these days, but I have a kart circuit at home and I have a buggy with a 600cc engine so I'll try to get out on that when I can. The Race of Champions is friendly off the track, but that all evaporates when we're waiting on the start line, so I'd better be prepared…"

Doohan claimed the premier class world title in five consecutive seasons between 1994 and 1998, achieving 54 Grand Prix victories, 95 podium finishes, 58 pole positions and 46 race fastest laps across his career.

Image: motogp.com