Taiyo Furusato, winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix in the Moto3, will make his Moto2 debut next year. The Japanese rider will continue to wear the colors of his current team, Team Asia, and will share the garage with Mario Aji in 2026. The two were already teammates in the Moto3, in the cadet class.
"Today we're announcing our Moto2 line-up for 2026. Mario Aji and Taiyo Furusato," Team Manager Hiroshi Aoyama stated. "For Mario, this will be his third season in the Moto2, and we expect to see his progress and for him to move closer to the top positions. His teammate, Taiyo Furusato, will switch from the Moto3 to the Moto2. This is a big step and a new challenge for him. We're very happy to give him this opportunity and are excited to see how quickly he can adapt and show his speed in this category. We believe in their potential and want to give them the best support possible."
Furusato happily welcomed his promotion to the intermediate class. "Obviously, it's a big change, because I've been in the Moto3 with my team for four years, and now this step up is clearly a positive one. It's going to be a challenge, but this also makes me enthusiastic. I've never ridden such a big bike before so, obviously, part of me is nervous, but I'm really motivated and ready to work hard. I'm looking forward to riding the Moto2, learn as much as I can, and enjoy this new experience with the team. After my win in Malaysia, I'm even more confident and motivated. Now I just want to keep improving and prepare well during the winter break to be ready for this new chapter. Thank you very much for this opportunity, I won't let you down."