Honda will be embarrassed by what Ai Ogura’s manager just said about Trackhouse MotoGP offer

Add as preferred source on Google

Ai Ogura was the surprise superstar of the first round of the 2025 MotoGP season as he shocked the paddock with an incredible debut performance.

Trackhouse Racing have gained a true star of the future and his attitude and work ethic has pleased his team so far.

Ogura isn’t displaying the typical traits of a MotoGP rookie. He has been mature and is yet to make any mistakes on the track.

The Grand Prix of Thailand proved that he was more than ready for a premonition to the premier class, as he hounded Francesco Bagnaia for much of the race.

Ogura showed signs of an ‘incredible trait’ in Buriram, as he remained level headed and attacked the race like an experienced campaigner.

Away from his own team, Aprilia staff have been ‘so impressed’ with Ogura and his work ethic is translating into results.

Ai Ogura ‘needed five minutes’ to abandon Honda and sign with Trackhouse Racing for 2025

Previously a Honda contracted rider in the lower divisions, Ogura had already turned down a seat on the grid before in hope that a better opening would become available.

When the Trackhouse gig arrived, there were no guarantees of him even considering a move due to his close ties with Honda.

However, such has been the rate of the Japanese manufacturer’s regression, a tempting offer from a rival outfit was hard to ignore.

Ogura’s agent Jordi Pons revealed to Motorsport.com that he needed just five minutes to decide upon abandoning Honda and moving to Trackhouse for 2025.

“Ai told me he needed five minutes. After that, he called me back and said he was in,” he said. It was an embarrassing indictment for the Honda operation.

The incredible run of form Ai Ogura is on that no one in MotoGP may have noticed

With the exception of a retirement during the penultimate round of the Moto2 season last year, Ogura is in the middle of an exceptional run of form.

In his last nine Grands Prix (including his 2024 Moto2 campaign), he has finished inside the top four on eight occasions.

The upcoming Argentina Grand Prix may represent more of a challenge for him, as a track that he hasn’t been able to conduct any prior testing on.

MotoGP’s return to the track after one year away due to financial woes in the country means that many riders won’t have raced there on premier class bikes before.