‘Perfect’ MotoGP rookie leaves Neil Hodgson in ‘love’ with what he saw in the Thai Grand Prix

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Neil Hodgson was left declaring his ‘love’ for what the TNT Sports pundit saw one of MotoGP’s three rookies on the 2025 grid do in the season-opening Thai Grand Prix.

Ducati, Honda and Trackhouse Racing have ushered fresh blood onto the grid this term with Fermin Aldeguer placed at Gresini, Somkiat Chantra placed at LCR and Ai Ogura all stepping up from Moto2. Ogura is the sole rookie on the 2025 MotoGP grid without a works contract.

Trackhouse would come to love their decision to hire Ogura last August after the 24-year-old went on to win the 2024 Moto2 title. The Japanese ace romped to glory on 274 points, while Aldeguer came fifth on 182 and Chantra – MotoGP’s first Thai rider – came just 12th on 104.

Ai Ogura left Neil Hodgson in ‘love’ with the Trackhouse rider’s MotoGP debut at the Thai Grand Prix

Hodgson initially questioned Trackhouse signing Ogura to a two-year contract for his move to MotoGP in the 2025 season. Yet the TNT Sports pundit has come to believe they made an inspired decision, and was left professing his ‘love’ for the Japanese rider during the Thai GP.

Ogura amazed the 2003 World Superbikes champion early on at Buriram amid an impressive breakthrough appearance. Hodgson was particularly amazed with how Ogura sensed Franco Morbidelli coming after the Trackhouse rookie made a mistake into Turn 3 and did not panic.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Ai Ogura from height to career stats

VR46 Racing Team star Morbidelli took advantage of Ogura running slightly deep into the T3 hairpin to move into fourth place on Lap 3. Yet the rookie could tell the 30-year-old was over his shoulder so instinctively tried the cutback – and it left Hodgson to sing Ogura’s praises.

Hodgson said on TNT Sports 2 (2/3, 08:09): “I love that. Ai Ogura sensed it. He was aware he was slightly wide and thought, ‘Hang on he’s coming’. He dealt with that situation perfect. Just pick the bike up, let him through and you’ve always got the chance of the cutback.”

Neil Hodgson ‘never saw’ Ai Ogura beating factory Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi at Buriram

Ogura also continued to amaze Hodgson during the Thai Grand Prix on Sunday as the No79 kept his cool to kick off the 2025 MotoGP season with his fifth place finish. After losing P4 to Morbidelli early on, the Trackhouse rookie stayed calm to come home 7.450s from the lead.

What particularly impressed Hodgson about Ogura’s consistency to stay within 2.274s of P4 Morbidelli was how he was in a different league to Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi all race. He has the same Aprilia RS-GP25 bike as the Italian, who finished P6, yet opened a 7.517s lead.

Hodgson added (2/3, 08:21): “I mean, Ai Ogura’s circulating around seven tenths faster than Marco Bezzecchi on the factory Aprilia. I don’t think anyone saw this coming from Ai Ogura.”