After missing the Austrian Grand Prix, following a fall which forced him to withdraw from the event before taking part in Qualifying, Ai Ogura has regained his form, and sees the consistency – almost flawless – which it shows, paying off during this second part of the season. The Japanese’s latest results allow him to put a finger on the Moto2 title. Enough to give him confidence before competing in his Grand Prix at home.
While Ai Ogura has scored two podiums in the last three Grands Prix, his neighbor in the garage, suffering, ended two of the last three meetings with retirements. A situation which naturally benefits the Japanese driver. Remaining in the shadow of Sergio Garcia during the first part of the season, the No. 79 took advantage of the latter’s misfortunes to reduce the gap in the championship, and take control in San Marino.
After the Indonesian Grand Prix, in which he finished in second position, Ogura almost doubled his advantage in terms of points, to increase his lead to 42 points over Sergio Garcia, who can no longer be considered as his most serious rival.
The men in form from these last races, Aron Canet, Jake Dixon and Tony Arbolino, are at least fifty points behind the leader of the Moto2 Drivers classification. An advantage that could grow this weekend, as Ai Ogura will benefit from the support of Japanese fans in Motegi.
In the last five rounds of this 2024 season, there are 150 points left to distribute. The Japanese driver would therefore have to lose around ten units per race compared to his closest pursuers to see the title slip away from him.
The future Trackhouse Racing driver therefore presents himself as favorite for the world crown. He would thus become the first Japanese to win a World Championship since Hiroshi Aoyama’s coronation in 250cc, formerly the name of the intermediate class. This title dates back more than fifteen years, since it was awarded to Aoyama at the end of the 2009 season.
