As the only American team competing in the premier class of motorcycle racing, Trackhouse Racing is thrilled to announce the new rider for the team starting next season: Ai Ogura. The japanese will join forces with the team’s current rider, #25 Raul Fernandez, who recently extended his contract through 2026. Both riders will compete on state-of-the-art Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP bikes, directly comparable to those used by the Aprilia Racing team.
Ai Ogura, a 23-year-old native of Kiyose, Japan, has demonstrated consistent growth throughout his career. Currently, he’s making waves in the Moto2 World Championship, holding 2nd place in the standings with two victories this season. Ogura’s impressive performance with the MT Helmets MSI Moto2 team caught the eye of Trackhouse Racing’s Team Principal, Davide Brivio, and Team Owner, Justin Marks. His potential and recent progress made him an ideal candidate for the team’s future plans.
Justin Marks is committed to establishing Trackhouse Racing as a hub for emerging talent, and Ai’s addition aligns with this vision. Alongside Raul Fernandez, the team will field two ambitious young riders on identical Aprilia RS-GP machines, ensuring that four bikes from the Noale factory will compete for the MotoGP World Championship over the next two seasons.
Here is the reaction of Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing Team Owner:
– We’re excited to welcome to the house a young and very promising talent in Ai Ogura. He has demonstrated his preparation and commitment to winning in Moto2 and is ready for the step up to the MotoGP class. We’re looking forward to working with him and supporting him as he learns the Aprilia bike and the incredible competition at the top level of international motorcycle racing. Trackhouse Racing MotoGP was created to serve as the global expansion initiative of the Trackhouse brand. It’s truly exciting that we now have an athlete roster across our teams that represents Mexico, USA, Spain, New Zealand, and now Japan.
And he added: ‘Trackhouse values deeply the work and effort Miguel has put in this year, our first in MotoGP. His willingness to work with new ownership and extract the most from the Aprilia RS-GP24 this season has been a tremendous help as Trackhouse establishes itself in the championship. We wish him the best in 2025 and beyond, and look forward to continued success as we finish the 2024 season’.