Ai Ogura, one of the three rookies on the 2025 MotoGP grid, showcased notable promise riding for the Trackhouse team on an Aprilia bike. Earning a contract extension for the upcoming year, Ogura’s rookie season drew attention as he transitioned from being the 2024 Moto2 Champion to competing in the premier class. His early performances highlighted why many consider his rookie season one to watch closely.
Entering MotoGP as a rookie is a daunting feat, with immense pressure to quickly demonstrate skill and adaptability. Ogura reflected on his journey, stating,
“My goal was to become a GP Rider. I had been watching since I was little. It wasn’t a sense of it being a job, but I had decided, ‘I will become this.’ Before I knew it, that’s what I had become.”
His initial outings proved promising, defying the usual rookie challenges of struggling to find pace among established competitors.
Strong Early Races Marked by Competitive Spirit
Ogura made a remarkable impression during his first weekend in Thailand, securing fourth place in the Sprint race and fifth in the main event, solidifying his potential against top MotoGP riders. His qualifying performance stood out as well, advancing directly to Q2 and earning a respectable fifth position on the starting grid. In comparison, fellow rookie Fermín Aldeguer began from 15th and only improved slightly during the race.
The Argentine Grand Prix maintained this momentum, with Ogura climbing to eighth place after starting 15th. Unfortunately, his efforts in Argentina were overshadowed when a disqualification resulted from the use of non-approved software, costing him valuable championship points.
From the United States to France, Ogura demonstrated consistency by finishing within the top ten in three of four races, aside from a 15th place in Qatar. These results underscored his ability to maintain competitive form amidst the growing demands of MotoGP racing.
Injuries Disrupt the Rookie’s Season Progress
The British Grand Prix proved to be a challenging turning point as Ogura was involved in a crash that fractured his tibia, necessitating surgery and forcing him to miss the subsequent Aragon race. Though he returned at the Italian Grand Prix with a 10th-place finish, the momentum he had gathered was difficult to recapture.
Subsequent races were marked by setbacks and inconsistency. Ogura failed to finish the Dutch and German Grands Prix and struggled to break into the top ten over the next few events. A brief resurgence took place in Catalonia, where he finished sixth, but further injury at San Marino — bruising his right hand bone and injuring soft tissue in his foot — led to additional absences, including missing his home race in Japan.
Upon returning in Australia, he found it difficult to replicate his best results or consistently place in the top ten. Across the season, Ogura started only 18 of 22 races and secured six top-ten finishes, a commendable outcome considering the physical hurdles he faced.
Reflecting on the season’s challenges, Ogura said,
“During this season, at one point, I think maybe I’m not [good] enough, but then I started to ride the bike OK.
After the injury, especially in the tough moments, [I had doubts]. But the last two races, I had quite OK races. So, I still see the future. It’s OK.”
Assessing Ogura’s Future in MotoGP
Despite the difficulties encountered, Ai Ogura exhibited clear moments of talent and resilience during his debut season. With an additional year in MotoGP, he has the opportunity to strengthen his understanding of the bike and deepen his collaboration with Trackhouse, a team whose competitive potential is demonstrated by his teammate Raúl Fernández’s race-winning performances.
The next season will be critical in determining whether Ogura can translate his early promise into sustained success, overcoming injury setbacks and expanding his presence as a consistent front-runner. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to watch his progress, beginning with the season opener scheduled for March 1st in Thailand at 8:00 BST, where expectations are high for him to elevate both his own and Trackhouse’s standing on the grid.
