Takuma Aoki's Motorsports Life Vol. 27 [MotoGP France–Hungary GP Analysis] Ai Ogura Finally Makes It to the Podium in the MotoGP Class!

Takuma Aoki is the second son of the Aoki brothers, who made a name for themselves in road racing both in Japan and abroad during the 1990s. After winning the All-Japan Championship, he moved up to the 500cc class of the World Grand Prix, but in 1998—just as his career was taking off—he was involved in an accident during pre-season testing that left him paralyzed from the waist down.However, undeterred by this adversity, he switched to four-wheel racing as a wheelchair racer and even claimed the overall victory at the 2023 Asia Cross-Country Rally. This time, we’ll be talking about Aoi Ogura, who competes in the MotoGP class.

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It was bound to happen! Ai-kun, you finally did it!!

Ai Ogura (Track House MotoGP Team) took third place on the podium at the French Grand Prix. Honestly, my first thought was, “The day has finally come.”This is the first time a Japanese rider has stood on the podium in MotoGP’s premier class in 14 years—since Katsuyuki Nakasuga back in 2012. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?

However, rather than feeling “surprised,” I actually have a stronger sense that “what was bound to happen has finally happened.” I’ve been watching him since the season opener, and his performance has been so strong that it felt natural for him to be competing at the top. I felt it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he made it onto the podium at any time, so I’m completely satisfied with this result.

The key to victory lies in his outstanding tire management.

While Ogura’s strengths have been discussed from various angles, what I’m focusing on most right now is his tire management skills. They are truly outstanding.

In the early stages of a MotoGP race, riders are strongly motivated not to fall behind the leading group. As a result, many riders push to the absolute limit. However, on tracks that are hard on tires, this comes at the cost of a significant drop in grip during the latter stages of the race.

Ogura, however, is different. Even if he falls slightly behind the leading group early in the race, he isn’t swayed by the pace of those around him and doesn’t let his rhythm falter. He carefully conserves his tires while steadily executing the race plan he has envisioned.

It’s easy to say, but extremely difficult to do in practice. While those around him are pushing hard, can he calmly judge that “now is the time to be patient” and maintain his own pace? There are very few riders who can do that.

It’s truly “remarkable” that a young rider—especially one in only his second year in MotoGP who is already competing at the top—can maintain this “patience.” Normally, if the rider in front pulls away, you’d naturally want to push yourself to the limit to catch up. I believe that mental strength—the ability to resist that urge—is Ogura’s greatest asset.

Furthermore, the tires he conserved in the early stages really pay off in the latter half of the race. I believe this is Ogura’s winning formula.

A race where his strength in the latter half really stands out

Watching Ogura this season, what impresses me most—along with his tire management skills—is his ability to make a comeback in the latter half of the race. It’s truly remarkable.As the race nears its end and the other riders’ paces begin to drop due to tire wear, Ogura, on the contrary, picks up the pace. The “patience in the early stages” I mentioned earlier really pays off right here.

Bike setup, tire management, and physical stamina—this kind of riding can only be achieved when all these elements come together at a high level. Even from the perspective of a former rider, I’m amazed by the level of perfection he displays.

And isn’t it actually the other riders themselves who feel this threat the most? A symbolic example of this was the race at Round 7, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. The rider he battled for third place right up to the very end was two-time world champion Pecco Bagnaia.

After the race, Bagnaia said, “At Turn 12 on the final lap, I could feel Ai right behind me. It was really down to the wire.” The fact that even Bagnaia—of all people—spontaneously made that remark shows just how keenly aware he was of Ogura’s presence.It’s safe to say that Ogura has reached a level where even the very best of the best in MotoGP acknowledge him as an “opponent they cannot afford to lose to.”

His “usual comeback,” as seen at the Hungarian GP

The most recent Round 8, the Hungarian Grand Prix, took place at the relatively new Balatonpark circuit, and once again, Ogura delivered a race that was quintessentially his. He qualified 10th, starting from the fourth row—by no means an ideal position. He also finished 11th in Saturday’s Sprint race, a result he himself may not have been satisfied with.

However, Sunday’s main race was a different story. He steadily climbed through the field and, in the closing stages, overtook Luca Marini to move up to 4th place. Although Fabio Di Giannantonio of the Aprilia factory team retired at Turn 1, Ogura managed to secure a solid top-five finish despite the incident.

After the race, Ogura commented, “I’m not at all satisfied with my performance.” The fact that he isn’t satisfied with this fourth-place finish is typical of him. It’s proof that he’s already setting his sights on winning and competing for the podium.Even if his qualifying position is a bit low, he always manages to move up the order in the race. This “Sunday driver” mentality is truly reassuring.

The day he wins isn’t far off.

Judging by his performance so far, it feels like the day Ogura wins the race is definitely not far off.His first podium finish at the French Grand Prix, his fierce battle with champion Bagnaia at Mugello, and his fourth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix—the momentum is definitely shifting in Ogura’s favor. And the season has only just reached the halfway point. Considering the number of races remaining, he is in a position where he has a very real chance of joining the championship race.

Of course, the top contenders—such as Betzecki, Martin, and Marc Márquez—aren’t going to give up their positions easily. Still, seeing how Ogura has been closing in on the leaders in the final stages of races lately, no one can help but be on their guard.

Back in the 500cc era when I was an active rider, it was incredibly difficult for a Japanese rider to claim victory at the pinnacle of the world stage. That’s precisely why seeing Ogura competing at the very forefront of MotoGP right now is so moving.

The season is still only halfway through. I really hope this young “Samurai,” who is well-positioned to contend for the championship, will give it his all right to the very end. I’m really looking forward to the next race.

Reference URL

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