Before making the big jump from Moto2 to MotoGP, Ai Ogura won the world title in the intermediate class. An accomplishment achieved at the end of a complicated season, which saw him gain strength throughout the twenty-rounds to be played. Looking back on this world crown, which was also the first for a Japanese rider since 2009, Ogura doubts that he can do as well in MotoGP.
Ai Ogura's 2024 campaign did not start in an ideal way, and until mid-season, everyone thought the title was almost a given for his garage neighbor, Sergio Garcia, who had more than 50 points. 'advance.
After the summer break, however, the tide turned in favor of the Japanese driver. His teammate, suffering from severe shoulder pain, was certainly also demotivated by the signing of Ai Ogura with Trackhouse Racing. Once this obstacle was cleared, nothing could stop the Japanese, not even the injury he suffered during P2 of the Austrian Grand Prix.
“I didn't start well this season, I finished sixth, seventh, sixth again, and Garcia had a lot more points than me, confided Ogura during the last Thai Grand Prix, in comments relayed this week by the official website of the discipline. But I wasn't really thinking about the championship. Even if we finish, sixth, seventh, or whatever. We knew our potential, we knew that we could win races, and finish all the events of the season if we worked in the right way.
It started to go well. I won in Barcelona, and after that date everything was fine, he continues. But I had this fracture in Austria. After that, the victory in Misano was important for me. I was still in pain, but I won the race and I showed the team that we were taking another step and motivated them. After that, at the end of the season, we finished on the podium regularly. We just checked. It wasn't the perfect season, but it's great. »
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Michelin
By becoming Moto2 world champion, Ai Ogura fulfilled the dream of every rider starting out in the world championship. And if each of them then dreams of an even more prestigious title, by receiving promotion to MotoGP, this is not the case for Ai Ogura.
“The biggest goal I set for my career in the world championship was a world crown.
It doesn't matter if it happened in Moto3, Moto2 or MotoGP. So after losing two championships. One in Moto3, and one in 2022 in Moto2, I just dreamed of this title. “I know who I am. I know I'm not the fastest, nor the most talented. But if you work really hard, I know you can achieve these things. »
It will therefore be about enjoying every moment of his career in MotoGP, without feeling the slightest regret if success does not come to him.
“I’m not thinking about becoming a five-time world champion in MotoGP. I know who I am. If it happens, it will be great, but the chances are low. But I just dreamed of being that number 1 in the world. It might just be this year, but it's what I've been thinking about my whole career. Now I feel super ready for MotoGP. I'm happy » concludes Ai Ogura.
