Home / Sports / Yamaha Eyes Ogura for Historic MotoGP Leap, Rekindling Japan's Passion
Yamaha Eyes Ogura for Historic MotoGP Leap, Rekindling Japan's Passion
1 Oct
Summary
- Ai Ogura joins Yamaha's factory team for the 2027 MotoGP season.
- Yamaha believes Ogura can revive Japan's declining passion for motorcycling.
- Ogura is the first Japanese premier-class winner in over two decades.
Yamaha is pinning its hopes on MotoGP rider Ai Ogura to not only achieve greatness but also to revitalize Japan's waning motorcycle culture. Ogura is set to join Yamaha's factory team for the 2027 season, a move that could see a Japanese rider on a Japanese bike competing in the Japanese Grand Prix.
Paolo Pavesio, Yamaha MotoGP chief, expressed his belief that Ogura's growing popularity could help rekindle a passion for motorcycling in Japan. He noted the significant decline in motorcycle sales and enthusiast numbers over the past forty years, contrasting it with Tokyo's past as a motorcycle hub.
Ogura's career has seen a rapid ascent, including winning the Moto2 title in 2024 and becoming the first Japanese rider to win a premier-class MotoGP race in over two decades during the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. Yamaha considers him a strong contender for becoming one of the greatest Japanese riders in MotoGP history.
Pavesio acknowledged that while nationality isn't the primary factor in rider selection, Ogura's success is significant for Japan. He highlighted that Japan remains a major global producer of motorcycles, emphasizing the need for Japanese manufacturers to contribute to reviving the culture.
