It is said that talent alone is not enough. Winning requires commitment, discipline and passion, and a goal to aspire to. A dream to try to achieve with all one's might. In spite of the obstacles one may encounter along the way. This is how Ai Ogura crowned his dream of becoming World Champion, in the Grand Prix of Thailand. Writing an important page in motorcycling history.
The first rider from the Asia Talent Cup to win a title in the MotoGP, the 23-year-old in fact became the first Japanese rider to clinch the title in Moto2. Bringing back to the Land of the Rising Sun a World Championship that had been missing since 2009. When Hiroshi Aoyama took the crown in the last year of the 250cc class.
A goal Ogura achieved by breaking Kalex's dominance in the intermediate category, riding the MT Helmets - MSi team's Boscoscoscuro in the Spanish outfit's first year in the championship. Also winning the team title, in a year in which Ai found his rhythm after an underwhelming start. He managed to bounce back from the right hand injury he suffered in Austria to complete a ride that allowed him to win the title that has always been his trademark.
"The big goal of my career was to win a world title.It didn't matter if it was in Moto3, Moto2 or MotoGP. After losing two championships, one in Moto3 in 2020 and one in Moto2 in 2022, all I dreamed about was this title," the Japanese rider recounted excitedly. "It didn't matter to me whether I would one day become a MotoGP rider or not. I just wanted a world title. I finally did it and now I feel I am so ready to go to MotoGP. I'm happy."
The next Trackhouse Racing team rider, after all, has always been a down-to-earth guy. A humble guy with few words, who has always rolled up his sleeves to try to fulfill his dream of riding on the top of the World. If only for once.
"I know what I'm like. When I was younger, I was not the fastest. I felt I was not very talented, but I knew that by working hard I could do it," he explained, "That's why I never thought about things like wanting to be a five-time MotoGP Champion. It would be very nice if that happened, but I know the chances are very slim. So, I dreamed of being number one in the World for once, if only for that year, to be able to take the title. That's all I've thought about in my career."
Perhaps, just having this fixed goal in mind was what allowed the Japanese man not to throw in the towel, despite the difficulties he encountered in the season.
"I did not start well this year. In the first races I was doing 6th or 7th ... Garcia had many more points than me. It was not a great moment, but I was not worried about the championship. While finishing in those positions, I knew what my potential was. I knew that working the right way I could win races and get on the podium every weekend. I started to prove it by winning in Catalunya. Everything was going well, but then I fractured in Austria and I thought, "Not again!" I thought it was over," admitted Ai, who saw his season affected by a wrist injury in preseason testing back in 2023.
Instead, the 23-year-old took very little time to find his way back to the top step of the podium."To win in Misano was great. I still had pain but I still won the race, giving even more motivation to the whole team," he recalled. "In this last part of the season we have been on the podium many more times, in management. It was not a perfect year, but it was very good!"
The perfect closing of a circle and a demonstration of the growth Ogura has accomplished in the past two seasons. Also thanks to the switch from Dunlop tires to Pirelli, made in this 2024 season.
"Last year was very hard. The arrival of Pirelli was very important for me, because they are tires that are more suited to my style. Besides that, I worked very hard in the winter between 2023 and 2024, and that made me a better rider," Ogura acknowledged.
Speaking in more detail about how he has changed from 2022, the year he contended for the title with Augusto Fernandez, he added, "I am much faster than two years ago. Two seasons ago, I would finish tenth in practice and then in the race I would somehow manage to finish fourth or fifth. I was not one of the fastest on the grid. I carried the title fight to the end by always getting in the points, but I was not one of the best in Moto2. This year was completely different. I handled all the sessions and all the races much better and I know myself better now than I did two years ago. There is a big difference from then."
For the record: Oguma is the 11th world champion to come from the Red Bull Rookies Cup run by Peter Clifford.
11 World Champions - 14 titles
Izan Guevara Moto3 2022 - Rookies Cup Class of 2020
Pedro Acosta Moto3 2021 & Moto2 2023 - Class of 2020
Enea Bastianini Moto2 2020 Class of 2013
Brad Binder Moto3 2016 - Class of 2011
Danny Kent Moto3 2015 - Class of 2010
Jorge Martín Moto3 2018 - Class of 2014
Joan Mir Moto3 2017 & MotoGP 2020 - Class of 2014
Johann Zarco Moto2 2015 & 2016 - Class of 2007
Juame Masia Moto3 2023 - Class of 2014
David Alonso Moto3 2024 - Class of 2021
Ai Ogura Moto2 2024 - Class of 2017