Ai Ogura began racing in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup in 2015, coming seventh overall and taking his first win and podiums before 2016 saw the young Japanese rider take another step forward as he ended the season as runner-up in the Cup - with three more wins and more podiums. 2016 also saw Ogura racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and there he took his first podium, but 2017 saw a big step forward. He continued racing in the Rookies, taking two wins, five podiums and two poles, and he moved also into the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Championship. In the CEV he took his first win in Jerez and set himself up for an assault further forward in 2018. Some DNFs dented his overall charge in 2018 but he was in the top five overall, took another win and numerous podiums. Ogura also made his wildcard debut in the Moto3™ World Championship and scored his first Grand Prix point. 2019 marked his arrival full time with Honda Team Asia. Surprisingly consistent, he even made it to the podium in Aragón to finish tenth. And in 2020, the native of Tokyo registered no less than seven rostrums: more than any of his competitors! But in the end, his title challenge ran out of steam, leaving Albert Arenas and Tony Arbolino ahead of him in the overall standings. 2021 saw him promoted to the Moto2™ side of Honda Team Asia and it was a hugely impressive rookie season from the Japanese rider. After a series of near misses, Ogura finally stood on the podium at the Austrian GP which helped him secure 8th place in the Championship overall. 2022 saw him come to the fore of the title fight, with three victories and four further podiums seeing him lead the Championship with two rounds to go. However, a pair of unfortunate crashes in the final two races saw him cough up the Championship to Augusto Fernandez. The Japanese rider would have a challenging 2023 season with only three podiums to his name and a ninth-place finish in the World Championship. He will don the colors of MT Helmets MSI in 2024, where he hopes to return to his 2022 form.
Rider Stats
Videos
-
Triumph Triple Trophy Winner: Ai Ogura
Get to know the Moto2™ World Champion a little better as he takes home a custom-liveried Triumph Street Triple 765 RS
Sponsored by -
Ai Ogura - 2025 - Barcelona Official Test
-
2025_1502_MotoGP_CAT_T01_MGP_Davide Brivio - 2025 – Barcelona Official TestDAY01_BRIVIO
-
Meet the rookies: Ogura, Aldeguer and Chantra asses MotoGP™ debuts
Just try and wipe the smiles off the faces of Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra after the Barcelona Test!
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 – SDL RACE
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 - SDL QP
-
Ai Ogura - 2024 - SDL Preview
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 - MAL RACE
Rider Bio
Bike
-
Date of birth
26/01/2001
Place of birth
Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan
Height
169 cm
Weight
60 kg
Rider Story
News
-
Triumph Triple Trophy: Ogura clinches 2024 honours
The World Champion was awarded the 2024 prize at the Solidarity GP of Barcelona
Sponsored by -
#GoldenAi: Ai Ogura crowned 2024 Moto2™ World Champion
Ai came, Ai saw, Ai conquered: a podium in Thailand sees the Japanese rider secure the crown
By motogp.com -
Ogura holds the edge over Canet ahead of a crucial Thai GP
The #79 will start Sunday from P1, beating Canet and Moreira after a pivotal qualifying in Thailand
By motogp.com -
The toughest job in MotoGP™
Could Ai Ogura be the chosen one to end Japan's 75-year wait
By Nick Harris -
Japan’s rising star: Ogura joins illustrious list with MotoGP™ leap
The 23-year-old becomes the latest Japanese GP winner to move into the MotoGP™ as Trackhouse Racing confirm the #79’s signature
-
Trackhouse Racing sign Ai Ogura for 2025 and 2026 MotoGP™ seasons
The Japanese star will join Raul Fernandez in the American-based outfit for the next two years
By Trackhouse Racing -
Ogura takes a priceless win on home soil
Ogura becomes the first Japanese winner in a Japanese GP since 2006 and closes the gap to Fernandez in the Championship
By motogp.com -
Ogura, Sasaki and Suzuki hand Japan a day to remember
The Austrian GP was the first time since Rio 2001 that we saw two Japanese riders win on the same day
By motogp.com
Videos
-
Triumph Triple Trophy Winner: Ai Ogura
Get to know the Moto2™ World Champion a little better as he takes home a custom-liveried Triumph Street Triple 765 RS
Sponsored by -
Ai Ogura - 2025 - Barcelona Official Test
-
2025_1502_MotoGP_CAT_T01_MGP_Davide Brivio - 2025 – Barcelona Official TestDAY01_BRIVIO
-
Meet the rookies: Ogura, Aldeguer and Chantra asses MotoGP™ debuts
Just try and wipe the smiles off the faces of Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra after the Barcelona Test!
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 – SDL RACE
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 - SDL QP
-
Ai Ogura - 2024 - SDL Preview
-
Moto2 & Moto3 Japanese Riders - 2024 - MAL RACE