Ogura’s achievements signal a new era for Japanese riders on the world stage, reigniting Japan’s legacy in Grand Prix racing with his historic #GoldenAi season.
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Ai Ogura, riding for MT Helmets – MSI, secured the 2024 Moto2 World Championship with a second-place finish at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand.
This achievement marks Ogura as the first Japanese rider to claim a world title since Hiroshi Aoyama’s 250cc Championship win in 2009. The triumph also celebrates a historic moment as Ogura becomes the first former Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) graduate to reach world champion status.
The race saw Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) take the win, pushing his case for the silver medal with his third victory of the season. Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) achieved his first podium of 2024 by finishing in third place.
Ogura’s journey to the championship began in 2015 with the IATC, and he quickly made a name for himself with a string of podiums and wins in the ATC, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, and JuniorGP.
After transitioning to the Moto3 World Championship with Honda Team Asia in 2019, he steadily built a reputation for consistency. In 2020, he finished third overall in Moto3 and moved to Moto2, where he impressed with a maiden podium at the Austrian GP and continued to rise as a title contender.
After a challenging 2023, where a wrist injury hampered his campaign, Ogura switched teams to MT Helmets – MSI in 2024, partnering with Boscoscuro machinery. Fully recovered, Ogura started the season strong, scoring his first win with the new team in Barcelona and following up with wins in Assen and San Marino. As rivals faltered, Ogura capitalized, holding a commanding 60-point lead after a solid fourth-place finish at Phillip Island.
In Thailand, Ogura sealed the title in style. Battling to P2 before weather conditions forced an early end, he claimed the crown with two races to spare.
With the championship pressure off, Ogura heads to Malaysia next week, while Canet emerges as the frontrunner for the season’s silver medal, riding on the momentum of his latest win.
Ogura’s Milestone-Setting Championship in Stats
- Historic Firsts: Ai Ogura becomes the first Japanese rider to claim the Moto2 title, marking Japan’s first world championship win in an intermediate class since Hiroshi Aoyama’s 250cc title in 2009.
- Reviving a Legacy: Ogura is the seventh Japanese rider to win a Grand Prix world title. His victory brings Japan its ninth Grand Prix title overall, following champions such as Haruchika Aoki (2 titles), Kazuto Sakata (2), Takazumi Katayama (1), Tetsuya Harada (1), Daijiro Kato (1), and Hiroshi Aoyama (1).
- Asia Talent Cup Milestone: A former Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup competitor, Ogura is the first rider from this development series to become a Grand Prix World Champion.
- Breaking the Kalex Streak: Riding a Boscoscuro, Ogura is the first non-Kalex rider to clinch the Moto2 title since Marc Marquez won in 2012 with Suter.
- Record-Breaking Wins: Ogura’s six Moto2 wins make him the most successful Japanese rider in the Moto2 class, surpassing Takaaki Nakagami’s two wins.
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