Trackhouse Racing lastly introduced the long-rumoured signing of Japanese Moto2 sensation Ai Ogura for its 2025 marketing campaign on Friday with a two-year contract. The selections by the American outfit to miss Joe Roberts and for Ogura to half methods with Honda are in equal elements intriguing for all events concerned.
Beginning with Ogura, who turns into the primary rider from the Asia Expertise Cup to graduate to the premier class of bike Grand Prix racing. The Japanese rider goes in opposition to the curve by using for a European producer. Certainly, Ogura’s total Grand Prix profession to this point has been ridden with the backing of the Honda Racing Company (HRC). Previous to signing with the MT Helmets Moto2 squad this yr, Ogura’s profession, reminiscent of the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2016 had been campaigned with the Honda Crew Asia Squad.
All through his spectacular climbs by way of the junior Grand Prix classes, it appeared inevitable that Ogura would journey for Honda in MotoGP and that he was destined to succeed Takaaki Nakagami on the LCR squad, an thought he even rejected in 2023. Alas, Honda has been on a downfall as Ogura’s inventory, expertise and expertise have risen and already a rider of his stature – having received two races to take a seat second within the Moto2 Riders’ standings thus far, can do much better than journey Honda’s capricious RC213V.
Like all European marques in MotoGP, Aprilia has the sting over the Japanese manufacturers and is arguably the closest challenger to the dominant Ducatis. Maverick Vinales has two Dash wins and a Grand Prix victory to his identify this season and Aleix Espargaro received the Catalan Dash. Honda in the meantime, has 4 full-time riders with simply 39 factors between them – seven lower than the lowest-scoring Aprilia rider, Ogura’s future Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez.
On chopping ties with Honda to signal with the Trackhouse Aprilia squad, Ogura stated throughout the pre-event Austrian GP Press Convention “About this, I’m not likely comfortable, after all. If I could make a MotoGP step with Honda, after all it’s one of the best. However, on the identical time, I’ve to consider my future and the state of affairs, in order that’s my resolution.” Requested if his resolution was primarily based on the poorly performing RC213V, Ogura gave a one-word response: “Sure.”
If ever a extra damning indictment of Honda’s predicament had been uttered, Ogura’s verdict on the marque’s efficiency in MotoGP has crushed it. For the Japanese model to have supported considered one of its personal all through his total Grand Prix schooling just for him to drop them on the last hurdle is all of the proof Honda wants that it’s amid the worst interval of its illustrious Grand Prix historical past.
In the meantime, Trackhouse choosing Ogura has shut the door in the meanwhile on American rider Roberts graduating to MotoGP with an American squad. Trackhouse’s entry into MotoGP in 2024, with a motorbike adorned in crimson, white and blue was an indication that that is the collection’ American group. Roberts then, again with the American Racing Moto2 squad after three underwhelming years at Italtrans, would little question be seeking to Trackhouse as the proper alternative to get into MotoGP. With one win and 4 podiums to his identify in 2024, Roberts’ candidacy for a Trackhouse journey seemed apparent till Ogura’s identify was thrown into the ring.
Sitting third within the Moto2 Riders’ standing makes Roberts the highest-rated rider aboard a Kalex chassis amid a sea of Boscoscuros and he’s having essentially the most constant season of his GP profession. Nevertheless, the three lacklustre years at Italtrans are almost definitely what value him the chance to progress.
Trackhouse proprietor Justin Marks informed The Race earlier in 2024 “The holy frail for us is an American rider on our bikes profitable a MotoGP race, however we’re a good distance away from that, We’re a good distance away from it within the sport proper now, and we’re not going to power it. One of many issues that we’re going to do at Trackhouse is perceive the present standing of the American expertise pool and what the event ladder in the US seems to be like.”
It seems that Roberts must wait a short while longer for his alternative with Trackhouse, with the group not ruling out turning to American expertise sooner or later. However within the short-term, pure expertise full cease has been most well-liked over nationwide affiliations and Trackhouse Crew Principal Davide Brivio outlined why the group has opted to signal Ogura.
“We predict he is a superb expertise, and I feel he is likely one of the most proficient riders in Moto2,” Brivio defined to MotoGP.com. “We predict it’s the suitable time for him to maneuver to MotoGP. We put the whole lot in perspective, his expertise, his younger age, the potential of his using fashion, and we determined to spend money on him.”
Upon saying Ogura, Brivio famous “We respect his using fashion, his resilience throughout races and we really feel Ai has the potential to turn into an ideal MotoGP rider. Whereas we’ll work to develop Trackhouse Crew as a MotoGP challenge, we’ll concurrently work to offer Ai the instruments to precise his expertise and develop as a lot as potential.”
Honda and Roberts’ loss is Trackhouse and Ogura’s achieve and the Japanese rider stated “It’s a very particular feeling” to be stepping as much as MotoGP. “I’m actually comfortable that lastly I make this step. MotoGP is the utmost you’ll be able to have, there is no such thing as a extra, so I’m actually comfortable to make the final step and now I simply can’t wait to see what I can do there.”
The Japanese rider’s expertise is unquestionable and 2025 shall be an thrilling yr for him and onlookers as he goes up in opposition to Fernandez within the Trackhouse squad.
