OGURA SAYS HE TURNED DOWN HONDA BECAUSE HE WASN’T READY FOR MOTOGP

Ai Ogura’s route to MotoGP took an unexpected turn when he declined a chance to join Honda, the manufacturer that had supported him through much of his junior career. He had progressed from the Asia Talent Cup to Honda Team Asia in Moto3 and Moto2, and appeared close to a premier-class promotion with LCR Honda in 2024.

Instead, Ogura chose to remain in Moto2, moving from Honda Team Asia to MT Helmets-MSI. He explained that he did not feel prepared to step up and wanted to win a world title first. “I said no to Honda because I wasn’t ready for MotoGP,” he told Crash.net. “Also, I want to have one title before going to MotoGP; there are two biggest reasons.”

The decision paid off: Ogura won the 2024 Moto2 championship before making his MotoGP debut with Trackhouse Aprilia in 2025. He also became Japan’s first MotoGP race winner since 2004, taking victory at the Dutch Grand Prix earlier this season.

Asked whether he had mapped out his career years in advance, Ogura said his choices were shaped by the opportunities available at the time. “I just made a decision which I felt was best at the situation by the situation,” he said, adding that offers depend on results and cannot be planned “three or four years ago.” He said he rarely dwells on past choices: “I’m happy about the decision I made; I don’t know, no emotions about it.”

Ogura’s next move is already set. He will leave Trackhouse for Yamaha’s factory team in 2027, joining Jorge Martin. The deal was not part of Trackhouse’s plans, but Ogura signed earlier this year. He will arrive at Yamaha as the manufacturer continues rebuilding; its most recent victory was at the 2022 German Grand Prix.

Ogura described his role at the new team in practical terms: “My job is to do my 100% on the bike and give my comments to them.” Decisions about how Yamaha uses that feedback are for the team, he said. “As a rider the main job is to go faster the bike and do what you can on the bike.”