Grapevine: Ilmor confirm Portugal MotoGP debut

The Ilmor team said in a statement they had completed a successful test in Jerez this week with the 800cc machine and had made final adjustments for the season's penultimate round at Estoril.

"The bike was impressive in testing although we are still in shakedown mode," said McCoy, a 500cc winner with Red Bull Yamaha in Portugal and Valencia in 2000, who will compete at both circuits in the last two races of the year.

"It's such an exciting project and I'm glad Mario has asked me to race for the team. I'm keen to get amongst the MotoGP guys again," he added.

"Even though we have tested well so far, I'm not placing big expectations on the first two races, the established teams have 20 percent more engine performance because they are still running to the current rules."

MotoGP's rules are changing next season with the maximum engine capacity reduced from 990cc to 800.

Swiss-born Illien designed Formula One championship winning engines for McLaren in 1998 and 1999. The company's engines have also won the Indy 500 on 11 occasions.

After a takeover by Mercedes, who also own 40 percent of McLaren, Illien bought out the special projects side of the business to found a new Ilmor last year.