Ai Ogura (小椋藍, Ogura Ai, born 26 January 2001) is a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle racer who will be competing in MotoGP for Trackhouse Racing in 2025. He was recently crowned 2024 Moto2 World Champion with MT Helmets – MSi, being the first Japanese rider to win a world championship in fifteen years since Hiroshi Aoyama in 2009.[2]
| Ai Ogura | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Ogura at the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Japanese | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 January 2001 Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current team | Trackhouse Racing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bike number | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He previously competed in Moto2 and Moto3 for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, finishing as championship runner-up in 2022.
Ogura is the first Asia Talent Cup graduate to make it to MotoGP, alongside Somkiat Chantra.[3]
Career
editEarly career
editHe finished 11th in the 2016 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, in 2017 he participated in 9 out of 12 races of the 2017 FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship while taking part in the 2017 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, finishing 5th which earned him a promotion to the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior Championships the following season.
Moto3 World Championship
editAsia Talent Team (2018)
edit
Ogura made his Moto3 World Championship debut as a wildcard during the 2018 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix, finishing 15th and scoring his maiden point. He made three more wildcard appearances, wherein two of them he finished outside the points, and crashed with 3 laps to go in the German Grand Prix after a collision with Gabriel Rodrigo when he was running 9th. He also participated in the FIM CEV Moto3 where he finished fifth in the standings.
Honda Team Asia (2019–2020)
editOgura signed with Honda Team Asia for the 2019 Moto3 World Championship alongside compatriot Kaito Toba, who had spent the previous two seasons with said team.[4] He scored points in fourteen out of the nineteen races, and managed to finish second in the Aragon Grand Prix, it being his single podium and best result of the season. Ogura was coincidentally collected by Andrea Migno in both of the San Marino and Thai rounds in the very last lap while running 4th. He finished 10th in the standings with 109 points.
For the 2020 season, Ogura stayed in Honda Team Asia, teaming up with rookie Yuki Kunii, and managed to be consistent throughout the whole season reaching the podium in seven occasions. Ogura remained second in the standings for the most part of the season and took the championship battle with Tony Arbolino and Albert Arenas to the last round in Portugal, where the latter ended up taking the crown, while Ogura lost the second spot in the standings to Arbolino.[5][6] His final position was third with a total of 170 points, with his best result being second in Jerez and Misano.
Moto2 World Championship
editIdemitsu Honda Team Asia (2021–2023)
edit2021
editIn 2021, Ogura was promoted to Moto2, riding for Idemitsu Honda Team Asia alongside Thai Somkiat Chantra.[7] In his rookie season, he managed to be in the top 10 in every race he finished except for the first round in Qatar. Ogura qualified in the front row twice at the Red Bull Ring in the Styrian and Austrian Grand Prix, and earned his single podium and best result of the season after finishing second in the latter round, where he managed to follow championship contender and fellow rookie Raúl Fernández until the last lap with only a 0.845 second gap separating each other at the finish line.[8]
He missed the Valencia round as a result of an injury sustained after crashing in the Algarve Grand Prix where he suffered a small left-foot fracture.[9] He was beaten by Fernández to the rookie of the year award, who finished second in the standings. Meanwhile Ogura ended up 8th with 120 points and managed to finish ahead of teammate Chantra.
2022
editFor 2022 Ogura remained in the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, where he fought for the title until the last race. He started off the season achieving two podiums in the first four rounds in Argentina and COTA. Ogura was involved in a multi-rider crash in the Portuguese Grand Prix when he was running third after a rain shower unexpectedly hit part of the track resulting in unwarned riders losing control of their machines. He was able to pick up the bike and bring it to the pits but was not allowed to restart as five minutes had already passed after the red flag had been shown.[10] He earned his first World Championship win in the sixth round in Jerez starting from pole position.[11] After a third position in Mugello, Ogura was tied in points with then championship leader Celestino Vietti, and led the championship for the first time after the 13th round in Austria where he achieved his second pole and win, with a last lap battle involving teammate Chantra.[12]
He and Augusto Fernández took the title fight to the last rounds, wherein Ogura earned his home win in Motegi and got the championship lead back after the Australian round. With two rounds left and heading to the Malaysian Grand Prix, he held a 3.5 point lead gap to Fernández but lost it due to a crash in the last lap after taking the race lead from Tony Arbolino.[13] Ogura ultimately lost the championship to Fernández after crashing in the last round in Valencia. He finished as championship runner-up with 242 points.
2023
editDuring the 2023 pre-season training in Spain, Ogura suffered a broken wrist which ruled him out of the first two rounds in Portugal and Argentina.[14] He started the season in COTA, and earned three podiums in total, one being second in his home race in Motegi.[15] Ogura came 9th in the standings with 137.5 points.
On 15 September 2023, MT Helmets – MSi announced that Ogura would be joining their Moto2 project for the 2024 season alongside Sergio García.[16] Two weeks later HRC revealed that Ogura would stay linked with their program next season.[17]
MT Helmets – MSi (2024)
edit2024
edit
MT Helmets – MSi signed a deal with Boscoscuro to race with their chassis for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, which set a challenge for Ogura who had been racing on a Kalex frame for the past three seasons.[18] He started the season with consistent performances edging the podium spots until Le Mans, where he finished second, and the next race in Barcelona where he got his first win of the season, in front of teammate and championship leader García. He won again in Assen and was third in Sachsenring.
On 15 August 2024, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Trackhouse Racing announced that Ogura would be promoted to MotoGP in a 2-year deal with the American team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, partnering Raúl Fernández.[19] On the same weekend's Saturday Practice Ogura highsided exiting Turn 2's chicane, fracturing his right hand, which made him sit out of the Grand Prix.[20] He went on to win the San Marino Grand Prix only three weeks after suffering his fracture, which placed him as championship leader for the first time. Ogura finished second in Indonesia and home race Motegi. He would then finish fourth in Australia and second in Thailand to secure the 2024 Moto2 World Riders' Championship in front of remaining championship contenders Canet, Aldeguer and García.[21] He finished the season with a fourth position in the Solidarity Grand Prix, earning three wins and eight podiums in total.
MotoGP World Championship
editTrackhouse Racing (2025)
editIn 15 August 2024, Trackhouse Racing announced that Ogura would be promoted to MotoGP and sign a 2-year deal with the American team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and partner Raúl Fernández.
Personal life
editOgura grew up in a racing family, where his father passed on his interest in motoracing. Ogura has expressed how his father helped him with bike reparations and settings since he started racing with pocket bikes at the age of three.[22]
His older sister Karen is also a motorcycle racer, who has competed in MotoAmerica, All Japan Road Race Championship and Suzuka 4 hours.[23]
Career statistics
editAsia Talent Cup
editRaces by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Honda | THA1 10 |
THA2 Ret |
QAT1 12 |
QAT2 13 |
MAL1 6 |
MAL2 Ret |
CHN1 2 |
CHN2 1 |
JPN1 2 |
JPN2 4 |
SEP1 Ret |
SEP2 10 |
7th | 107 |
| 2016 | Honda | THA1 1 |
THA2 4 |
QAT1 2 |
QAT2 7 |
MAL1 5 |
MAL2 Ret |
CHN1 1 |
CHN2 3 |
JPN1 3 |
JPN2 1 |
SEP1 4 |
SEP2 Ret |
2nd | 173 |
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
editRaces by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | JER1 Ret |
JER2 10 |
ASS1 3 |
ASS2 Ret |
SAC1 11 |
SAC2 19 |
RBR1 12 |
RBR2 11 |
BRN1 Ret |
BRN2 20 |
MIS 9 |
ARA1 11 |
ARA2 4 |
11th | 61 |
| 2017 | JER1 2 |
JER2 4 |
ASS1 | ASS2 | SAC1 | SAC2 | BRN1 19 |
BRN2 11 |
RBR1 1 |
RBR2 3 |
MIS 1 |
ARA1 2 |
ARA2 19 |
5th | 124 |
FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
editRaces by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Honda | ALB Ret |
LMS 5 |
CAT1 Ret |
CAT2 DNS |
VAL1 | VAL2 | EST 3 |
JER1 12 |
JER1 1 |
ARA 8 |
VAL1 8 |
VAL2 5 |
8th | 83 |
| 2018 | Honda | EST Ret |
VAL1 Ret |
VAL2 3 |
FRA 3 |
CAT1 7 |
CAT2 23 |
ARA 4 |
JER1 Ret |
JER2 2 |
ALB 7 |
VAL1 1 |
VAL2 2 |
5th | 128 |
FIM Moto2 European Championship
editBy year
edit| Year | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Kalex | EST1 |
EST2 |
VAL1 DNS |
JER |
POR1 |
POR2 |
CAT1 |
CAT2 |
ARA1 |
ARA2 |
VAL2 |
NC | 0 |
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
editBy season
edit| Season | Class | Motorcycle | Team | Race | Win | Podium | Pole | FLap | Pts | Plcd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Moto3 | Honda | Asia Talent Team | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36th |
| 2019 | Moto3 | Honda | Honda Team Asia | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 10th |
| 2020 | Moto3 | Honda | Honda Team Asia | 15 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 170 | 3rd |
| 2021 | Moto2 | Kalex | Idemitsu Honda Team Asia | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 8th |
| 2022 | Moto2 | Kalex | Idemitsu Honda Team Asia | 20 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 242 | 2nd |
| 2023 | Moto2 | Kalex | Idemitsu Honda Team Asia | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 137.5 | 9th |
| 2024 | Moto2 | Boscoscuro | MT Helmets – MSi | 19 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 274 | 1st |
| Total | 111 | 6 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 1053.5 | ||||
By class
edit| Class | Seasons | 1st GP | 1st Pod | 1st Win | Race | Win | Podiums | Pole | FLap | Pts | WChmp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moto3 | 2018–2020 | 2018 Spain | 2019 Aragon | 37 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 280 | 0 | |
| Moto2 | 2021–2024 | 2021 Qatar | 2021 Austria | 2022 Spain | 74 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 773.5 | 1 |
| Total | 2018–present | 111 | 6 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 1053.5 | 1 | |||
Races by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Class | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Moto3 | Honda | QAT | ARG | AME | SPA 15 |
FRA | ITA | CAT | NED 23 |
GER Ret |
CZE | AUT 20 |
GBR | RSM | ARA | THA | JPN | AUS | MAL | VAL | 36th | 1 | |
| 2019 | Moto3 | Honda | QAT 11 |
ARG 17 |
AME 11 |
SPA 9 |
FRA Ret |
ITA | CAT 6 |
NED 6 |
GER 7 |
CZE 6 |
AUT 12 |
GBR 10 |
RSM Ret |
ARA 2 |
THA Ret |
JPN 14 |
AUS 14 |
MAL 4 |
VAL 10 |
10th | 109 | |
| 2020 | Moto3 | Honda | QAT 3 |
SPA 2 |
ANC Ret |
CZE 3 |
AUT 4 |
STY 3 |
RSM 2 |
EMI 3 |
CAT 11 |
FRA 9 |
ARA 14 |
TER 9 |
EUR 3 |
VAL 8 |
POR 8 |
3rd | 170 | |||||
| 2021 | Moto2 | Kalex | QAT 17 |
DOH 5 |
POR Ret |
SPA 7 |
FRA 7 |
ITA 6 |
CAT Ret |
GER Ret |
NED 6 |
STY 5 |
AUT 2 |
GBR 9 |
ARA 8 |
RSM 7 |
AME 7 |
EMI 9 |
ALR Ret |
VAL | 8th | 120 | ||
| 2022 | Moto2 | Kalex | QAT 6 |
INA 6 |
ARG 3 |
AME 2 |
POR Ret |
SPA 1 |
FRA 5 |
ITA 3 |
CAT 7 |
GER 8 |
NED 2 |
GBR 4 |
AUT 1 |
RSM 5 |
ARA 4 |
JPN 1 |
THA 6‡ |
AUS 11 |
MAL Ret |
VAL Ret |
2nd | 242 |
| 2023 | Moto2 | Kalex | POR | ARG DNS |
AME 15 |
SPA Ret |
FRA 9 |
ITA 15 |
GER 14 |
NED 2 |
GBR 8 |
AUT 3 |
CAT 7 |
RSM 5 |
IND 21 |
JPN 2 |
INA 17 |
AUS 15‡ |
THA 5 |
MAL 4 |
QAT 4 |
VAL 11 |
9th | 137.5 |
| 2024 | Moto2 | Boscoscuro | QAT 4 |
POR 5 |
AME 7 |
SPA 6 |
FRA 2 |
CAT 1 |
ITA 5 |
NED 1 |
GER 3 |
GBR 14 |
AUT DNS |
ARA 8 |
RSM 1 |
EMI 4 |
INA 2 |
JPN 2 |
AUS 4 |
THA 2 |
MAL Ret |
SLD 4 |
1st | 274 |
‡ Half points awarded as less than two thirds of the race distance (but at least three full laps) was completed.
References
edit- ^ "Ogura, Ai". Asia Talent Cup. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Moto2 Thailand: Ahead of MotoGP, Ogura ends 15-year wait for Japan". paddock-gp.com. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "History made: Ogura becomes first ATC graduate to earn MotoGP™ seat". asiatalentcup.com. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Honda Announces Riders for 2019 FIM MotoGP World Championship Moto2 IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia and Moto3 Honda Team Asia". global.honda. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Arenas, Ogura or Arbolino: Champion IF…". motogp.com. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Portimao Moto3: Arenas wins title in thrilling decider". motorsport.com. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Honda announces riders for 2021 FIM Moto2 Idemitsu Honda Team Asia". honda.racing. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Austrian Moto2: Fernandez fends off Ogura for fourth win of 2021". motorsport.com. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Ogura Out As Moto2 Title Fights Goes To The Wire". honda.racing. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "'Bikes coming at me everywhere' – huge Moto2 scare stokes anger". the-race.com. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Ogura Takes Brilliant First Grand Prix Win At Jerez". honda.racing. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Ai Ogura second overall with three wins. Chantra's four podiums including his first win". honda.racing. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Heartbreak For Ogura After Crashing Out Of The Lead". honda.racing. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Ogura Fights Back For First Points Score of 2023". honda.racing. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Chantra and Ogura complete a magic weekend". honda.racing. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "MT Helmets – MSI team announces Ogura and Garcia for 2024 Moto2 charge". motorsportweek.com. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "HRC continues to sponsor Ai Ogura in Moto2 in 2024". motorcyclesports.net. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "MT Helmets-MSi joins Boscoscuro for Moto2". motorcyclesports.net. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Trackhouse Racing sign Ai Ogura for 2025 and 2026 MotoGP™ seasons". motogp.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Garcia sets the pace as Ogura crashes late". motogp.com. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Ogura clinches the World Championship as Canet wins in Thailand". motogp.com. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Ai Ogura". redbull.com. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "MotoAmerica: Japanese Racer Karen Ogura To Make Junior Cup Debut At Utah Motorsports Campus". roadracingworld.com. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
External links
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