The 2025 MotoGP™ season will see three exciting rookies join the premier class: Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer, and Somkiat Chantra. These rising stars bring diverse backgrounds, impressive achievements, and fresh potential to the grid. Here's a closer look at their journeys to MotoGP™.
Ai Ogura: From Asia Talent Cup to World Champion
Ai Ogura’s rise through the ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. Starting in the Asia Talent Cup in 2015, Ogura quickly impressed, securing podiums and a runner-up finish in 2016. After stepping up to the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup, he showed his potential, securing his first podium in 2017.
Ogura made his Moto3™ debut in 2019 with Honda Team Asia and soon became a consistent threat, collecting podiums and wins. In 2020, he came close to the title after taking seven podium finishes but ultimately fell short and placed P3. However, his move to Moto2™ in 2021 brought impressive results, including podium finishes and an eighth-place Championship finish in his debut season.
2022 was Ogura’s breakout season in Moto2™, leading the title race before unfortunate crashes in the final rounds cost him the Championship. His perseverance paid off in 2024 when he clinched the Moto2™ World Championship, making history as the first Asia Talent Cup graduate to win a world title, and the first Japanese World Champion since Hiroshi Aoyama in 2009. Now, Ogura is set to bring his Championship-winning form to MotoGP™ with Trackhouse Racing in 2025.
Fermin Aldeguer: Spain’s Future Star with Ducati
Fermin Aldeguer’s career is marked by rapid success. Starting at just six years old, Aldeguer won titles in Spain’s regional mini-bike championships and quickly progressed to the European Talent Cup in 2018. After a few of seasons, he moved up to the Moto2™ European Championship, where he dominated to win six straight races in his debut season, setting the stage for his entry into the World Championship.
The Spaniard followed the path less trodden, moving to MotoE™ for 2021, before getting his Moto2™ debut during the second half of the season with Speed Up, earning a full-time seat in 2022. Always recognised as a big talent, the hype train really took off when he took four consecutive Moto2™ wins, matching Toni Elias' long-standing record, at the end of 2023 to help finish P3 in the Championship. That display of raw speed and talent kicked Ducati into action early into the 2024 campaign, with the Bologna bullets tying him down on a two-year deal.
In 2025, Aldeguer joins Gresini Racing and Ducati, bringing his impressive racecraft to the GP24. With Ducati’s recent success, he’ll aim to make a quick impact in his MotoGP™ debut campaign.
Somkiat Chantra: Thailand’s MotoGP™ Trailblazer
Somkiat Chantra has already made history as Thailand’s first-ever Grand Prix winner, and in 2025, he will become the first Thai rider in MotoGP™. After starting his career in the Asia Talent Cup, Chantra made his debut in the Moto2™ class with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia in 2019. Though his early years were challenging, 2022 was a breakthrough, with a win in Mandalika and multiple podiums.
Chantra continued to shine in 2023, securing his second win at the Japanese Grand Prix and finishing sixth in the standings. Despite a quieter 2024 season, LCR Honda recognised his potential and signed him for MotoGP™ in 2025, where he will replace Takaaki Nakagami. Chantra’s debut will be a historic moment, as he races in front of his rapturous home fans at the Thai GP!
Looking Ahead to 2025
With Ogura, Aldeguer, and Chantra making their way into MotoGP™, the future of the sport looks bright. Ogura will look to carry his Championship-winning momentum into the premier class, while Aldeguer has the tools to adapt quickly to Ducati’s winning machine. Meanwhile, Chantra’s historic debut as Thailand’s first MotoGP™ rider will make for a highly anticipated moment in 2025.
These rookies are ready to make their mark, and the 2025 season is set to be one of the most exciting in MotoGP™ history.