Takuma Aoki's Motorsport Life Vol. 28 [MotoGP Netherlands-Germany GP Analysis] Ai Ogura Finally Gets His First Win! Yes, We Did It! Heading into the Summer Break in 2nd Place in the Rankings

Photo by : motoGP

In my last column, I mentioned that "Aiku's victory isn't too far off," and guess what? It became a reality in the very next race! This time, I'll be talking all about his historic first win at the Dutch GP in Assen, and his second-place podium finish at the German GP in Sachsenring!

"Takuma Aoki's Motorsport Life" Previous Column is Here!

We did it, we finally did it! — At Assen, at last!

I tell you, I couldn't help but shout in front of the TV, "We did it, we finally did it!"

On June 28th, at the TT Circuit Assen, Aiku Ogura finally, finally secured his first victory in the premier class at the 10th round of MotoGP, the Dutch Grand Prix. It's been a staggering 22 years since Makoto Tamada's victory in 2004, the last time a Japanese rider stood atop the highest class. It feels like an eternity, doesn't it, this 22-year wait?

In my previous column, I wrote that "victory isn't too far off." But honestly, I never expected it to happen in the very next race (laughs). That's how much Aiku's growth has surpassed our expectations.

And what a victory it was! In a challenging race where rivals fell one after another, Aiku remained calm, didn't falter, and stuck to his own pace, eventually finding himself in the lead. That was the culmination of "Aiku's race strategy." Not pushing too hard in the early stages, not getting distracted by others, conserving tires while building his own rhythm—the "excellent tire management" I spoke about in the last column finally paid off in the most spectacular way.

The moment Aiku crossed the finish line, his joy, and his expression when he returned to the pit... I have to admit, my eyes welled up. To see a Japanese rider reach the pinnacle of the sport again—it's truly an overwhelming feeling.

And on to the German GP at Sachsenring

But Aiku isn't the kind of rider to be satisfied with just one win.

On July 12th, just days after his first victory, at the 11th round German Grand Prix in Sachsenring, he showed us the performance of a rider who has truly developed a "winning habit."

As you know, the Sachsenring circuit is practically Marc Marquez's territory. He has an overwhelming record of nine wins here, and he dominated both Friday and Saturday. Marquez took pole position in qualifying, with the front row entirely occupied by Ducatis. Aiku started from fifth on the grid.

In the sprint race, he fought hard to finish fourth. He couldn't quite reach the podium, but he was in the top four battle from the start and held on until the end. Finishing fourth behind the Marquez brothers' one-two and strong contenders like Enea Bastianini was a remarkable achievement.

And then, the main race on Sunday. Here, Aiku shifted up another gear. While he couldn't stop Marc Marquez's solo run, he battled with his teammate Raul Fernandez for second place and secured the podium spot behind Marquez.

That, too, was a very typical Aiku performance. Racing against his teammate on the same machine. Normally, with all the data and machine characteristics known, it's not easy to overtake or be overtaken. To decisively beat him at the end and stand on the second step of the podium—this was truly the ride of a "winner," demonstrating immense mental strength.

And his championship standing? He moved up to an astonishing second place!

The German GP also brought significant shifts in the championship standings. Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia crashed in qualifying (Q2) and fractured his left collarbone. He was unable to compete in the sprint or main race. While we sincerely wish Bezzecchi a speedy recovery, this result allowed Aiku to surge into second place in the championship standings.

Honestly, how many people predicted before the season started that "Aiku would be in second place by the summer break"? I'm sure very few, including myself. That's how significant this achievement is.

He's no longer just a "regular podium contender"; he's now a "championship contender." Aiku has firmly entered that realm.

Immediately after TT Assen, a bombshell announcement — joining the Yamaha factory team

There was another major piece of news. Just three days after his first win at Assen, on July 1st, Yamaha Motor officially announced that Aiku Ogura would join the Yamaha Factory MotoGP team starting in 2027. The contract is for two years, 2027 and 2028. What's more, he'll be teaming up with former MotoGP champion Jorge Martin.

The timing of this announcement was truly dramatic, wasn't it? Coming so soon after the euphoria of his first victory. For Yamaha, "fielding a Japanese rider in their factory team" holds significant meaning. And for Aiku, being entrusted with a factory machine at the peak of his career presents an unparalleled challenge environment.

With this news, the level of attention on Aiku for the second half of the season will be completely different. Media worldwide, Japanese fans, and his rivals will be scrutinizing his every move. The pressure will undoubtedly be immense, but that's the destiny of a top rider. I believe Aiku will overcome it.

However... the rivals' speed is extraordinary.

But looking calmly at the standings, the situation isn't that simple.

As of the end of the German GP, the points standings are:

1st Jorge Martin (Aprilia) 208pts

2nd Aiku Ogura (Trackhouse) 194pts (14pts behind Martin)

3rd Marc Marquez (Ducati) 190pts (only 4pts behind Aiku)

4th Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) 186pts

Looking at these numbers, it's clear. While there's still a 14-point gap to leader Martin, the difference to third-placed Marc is a mere 4 points. This means Aiku is in a tough position, needing to simultaneously "chase the leader while fending off the rider right behind him"—fighting on both offense and defense.

Leading the championship is still Martin. His strength isn't flashy; it's his consistency. He doesn't make mistakes, doesn't falter, and steadily accumulates points—the most dangerous type of rider in a championship battle. Furthermore, he's on the same Aprilia machine, giving him direct access to development benefits. Overtaking him for the title won't be easy.

And right behind him is third-placed Marc. Everyone has witnessed Marc's speed this year. In the German GP main race, his riding was clearly on another level compared to the other riders. His ability to ride at the absolute limit of the machine, combined with his composure not to make mistakes when it counts—his performance suggests a complete resurgence.

Having this man breathing down your neck with only a 4-point difference is, frankly, immense pressure for Aiku. A single mistake could easily see him overtaken in the very next race.

Therefore, Aiku enters the second half of the season facing a dual mission: "how to catch Martin" and "how to keep Marc at bay." This is an incredibly demanding situation mentally.

But I genuinely believe Aiku has the potential to succeed. His style of "patiently fighting within his own rhythm" is actually the most effective against both Martin and Marc.

He has the strength to fight on the same ground as Martin, employing a strategy of accumulating points steadily rather than trying to force mistakes through pressure.

After the summer break, the second half of the season begins

The German GP marks the start of MotoGP's traditional summer break. The next race is in August, kicking off the second half of the season. This break will be a crucial training period for Aiku and the other riders as they prepare for the races ahead.

It's truly a joy to share this exciting anticipation of a potential championship with Japanese fans. And we'll be keenly watching how Aiku confronts Marc Marquez's extraordinary speed. We're eager to see his charge in the latter half of the season.

I simply can't wait for the season to resume in August!