Trackhouse Racing finally announced the long-rumoured signing of Japanese Moto2 sensation Ai Ogura for its 2025 campaign on Friday with a two-year contract. The decisions by the American outfit to overlook Joe Roberts and for Ogura to part ways with Honda are in equal parts intriguing for all parties involved.
Starting with Ogura, who becomes the first rider from the Asia Talent Cup to graduate to the premier class of motorcycle Grand Prix racing. The Japanese rider is going against the curve by riding for a European manufacturer. Indeed, Ogura’s entire Grand Prix career to date has been ridden with the backing of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC). Prior to signing with the MT Helmets Moto2 squad this year, Ogura’s career, harking back to the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2016 had been campaigned with the Honda Team Asia Squad.
Throughout his impressive climbs through the junior Grand Prix categories, it seemed inevitable that Ogura would ride for Honda in MotoGP and that he was destined to succeed Takaaki Nakagami at the LCR squad, an idea he even rejected in 2023. Alas, Honda has been on a downfall as Ogura’s stock, experience and talent have risen and already a rider of his stature – having won two races to sit second in the Moto2 Riders’ standings so far, can do far better than ride Honda’s capricious RC213V.
Like all European marques in MotoGP, Aprilia has the edge over the Japanese brands and is arguably the closest challenger to the dominant Ducatis. Maverick Vinales has two Sprint wins and a Grand Prix victory to his name this season and Aleix Espargaro won the Catalan Sprint. Honda meanwhile, has four full-time riders with just 39 points between them – seven less than the lowest-scoring Aprilia rider, Ogura’s future Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez.
On cutting ties with Honda to sign with the Trackhouse Aprilia squad, Ogura said during the pre-event Austrian GP Press Conference “About this, I’m not really happy, of course. If I can make a MotoGP step with Honda, of course it’s the best. But, at the same time, I have to think about my future and the situation, so that’s my decision.” Asked if his decision was based on the poorly performing RC213V, Ogura gave a one-word response: “Yes.”
If ever a more damning indictment of Honda’s predicament had been uttered, Ogura’s verdict on the marque’s performance in MotoGP has beaten it. For the Japanese brand to have supported one of its own throughout his entire Grand Prix education only for him to drop them at the final hurdle is all the proof Honda needs that it is amid the worst period of its illustrious Grand Prix history.
Meanwhile, Trackhouse opting for Ogura has shut the door for the time being on American rider Roberts graduating to MotoGP with an American squad. Trackhouse’s entry into MotoGP in 2024, with a bike adorned in red, white and blue was a sign that this is the series’ American team. Roberts then, back with the American Racing Moto2 squad after three underwhelming years at Italtrans, would no doubt be looking to Trackhouse as the perfect opportunity to get into MotoGP. With one win and four podiums to his name in 2024, Roberts’ candidacy for a Trackhouse ride looked obvious until Ogura’s name was thrown into the ring.
Sitting third in the Moto2 Riders’ standing makes Roberts the highest-rated rider aboard a Kalex chassis amid a sea of Boscoscuros and he is having the most consistent season of his GP career. However, the three lacklustre years at Italtrans are most likely what cost him the opportunity to progress.
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks told The Race earlier in 2024 “The holy frail for us is an American rider on our bikes winning a MotoGP race, but we’re a long way away from that, We’re a long way away from it in the sport right now, and we’re not going to force it. One of the things that we’re going to do at Trackhouse is understand the current status of the American talent pool and what the development ladder in the United States looks like.”
It appears that Roberts will have to wait a little while longer for his opportunity with Trackhouse, with the team not ruling out turning to American talent in the future. But in the short-term, pure talent full stop has been preferred over national affiliations and Trackhouse Team Principal Davide Brivio outlined why the team has opted to sign Ogura.
“We think he is a great talent, and I think he is one of the most talented riders in Moto2,” Brivio explained to MotoGP.com. “We think it’s the right time for him to move to MotoGP. We put everything in perspective, his talent, his young age, the potential of his riding style, and we decided to invest in him.”
Upon announcing Ogura, Brivio noted “We appreciate his riding style, his resilience during races and we feel Ai has the potential to become a great MotoGP rider. While we will work to develop Trackhouse Team as a MotoGP project, we will simultaneously work to give Ai the tools to express his talent and grow as much as possible.”
Honda and Roberts’ loss is Trackhouse and Ogura’s gain and the Japanese rider said “It’s a really special feeling” to be stepping up to MotoGP. “I’m really happy that finally I make this step. MotoGP is the maximum you can have, there is no more, so I’m really happy to make the last step and now I just can’t wait to see what I can do there.”
The Japanese rider’s talent is unquestionable and 2025 will be an exciting year for him and onlookers as he goes up against Fernandez in the Trackhouse squad.
