Marco Bezzecchi
Ai Ogura agreeing to join Yamaha from the 2027 season has further infuriated Honda, after he rejected them in favour of making his MotoGP debut in 2025 for Trackhouse.
Honda had wanted to bring Ogura into MotoGP in 2025 through their satellite squad LCR, as the Tokyo team had developed the Japanese rider through the early stages of his career. But Ogura only took five minutes to reject Honda, amid a falling-out with the HRC management.
The 25-year-old instead accepted an offer from Trackhouse to make his MotoGP debut on a factory-spec satellite Aprilia. Now, Ogura’s performances at Trackhouse are believed to have seen Yamaha identify him as the perfect replacement for Alex Rins as they refresh their fold.
Reports emerged over the weekend that Yamaha have signed Ogura for the 2027 season, as they have chosen against offering Rins a new contract ahead of his deal expiring this year. It also follows Yamaha’s deal to sign Jorge Martin ahead of Fabio Quartararo’s move to Honda.
Ai Ogura will join Jorge Martin at Yamaha!
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Ai Ogura has ‘angered’ Honda by agreeing to join Yamaha for the 2027 MotoGP season
Honda have taken serious issue with Ogura’s decision to now join their rival Japanese rival, Yamaha, only 19 months on from him rejecting them in favour of debuting in MotoGP with Trackhouse. Ogura is even now believed to have ‘multiplied’ his ‘many enemies’ at Honda.
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That is according to Motorpasion Moto, which reports that Honda consider Ogura a ‘traitor’ after he ‘angered’ the Tokyo crew by turning down their offer to debut in MotoGP with LCR. Ogura’s rejection forced Honda to turn to Somkiat Chantra, but he failed to make the grade.
Honda considered Ogura to be their next great Japanese rider after funding his early career. Yet Ogura’s decision to sign with Yamaha for 2027 effectively ends his ‘strained’ relationship with Honda, who still hold a grudge with the native of Kiyose, Tokyo for turning them down.
Ogura’s decision to join Trackhouse for 2025 and 2026 instead of LCR ultimately cost Honda the Idemitsu title sponsorship for the second LCR bike due to Chantra’s struggles. So, Ogura now joining Honda’s biggest rival in Yamaha from 2027 is likely to become HRC’s final straw.
Trackhouse won the race that no one except Honda were believed to be in as Ogura did not take well to HRC wanting him to move up to MotoGP in 2023 after finishing second for the 2022 Moto2 title. Honda also asked Ogura to switch teams after he chose to stay in Moto2.
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In the end, Ogura stayed with the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Moto2 team for 2023, but he joined MT Helmets – MSi in 2024 and won the intermediate class title. Ogura’s first year in MotoGP in 2025 started very well, but was derailed by his fractured tibia and a wrist injury.
Ogura produced the best MotoGP debut since Marc Marquez’s by finishing fifth in the 2025 Thailand Grand Prix. But he fractured his right tibia during practice at the British Grand Prix, and he also sustained a wrist injury at the San Marino Grand Prix that caused further issues.
Yamaha have now moved to sign Ogura for 2027 after he started the 2026 season very well, having recovered from those injuries. The Trackhouse ace got P5 in Thailand and Brazil, and was on course for a potential podium in the United States but retired with an engine failure.
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