Ai Ogura has admitted he is not yet at his best in MotoGP at Motegi, despite winning there in Moto2. Ai Ogura Motegi MotoGP talk has followed him into the build-up for his home race, and he chose to answer it directly.
Ai Ogura Admits Motegi MotoGP Struggle
Ogura knows Motegi well. He won there during his title-winning run in Moto2, and the track holds good memories for him. But he says that knowledge hasn’t fully carried over to his MotoGP bike; the feeling this time is different.
It’s a rare bit of plain honesty from a rider who will race in front of home fans. He isn’t talking up his chances, and he isn’t softening the comparison between the two categories either.
Primary Quote Details Motegi Performance Gap
Speaking in comments reported by Speedweek, Ogura summed up the gap in one line.
“I was strong at Motegi in Moto2, but not (yet) in MotoGP”
That bracketed “yet” carries weight. Ogura isn’t writing off his long-term chances at the track, according to Speedweek; he’s describing where things stand right now. Every rider who steps up from Moto2 goes through this adjustment, and he’s no exception.
Ogura Adapts to MotoGP Track Dynamics
The jump from Moto2 to MotoGP rarely runs smooth, even for a former champion. Bikes change. Tyres change. Braking points shift too, and a track once mastered can suddenly feel new again.
Motegi rewards riders through its fast, flowing sections. That kind of confidence usually comes from time on the bike, not from memory of old results. Ogura’s comments suggest he is still building that feel on the MotoGP package, even on a circuit where he once excelled.
Success in one category doesn’t guarantee an easy switch to the next. Fans who watched his Moto2 title run will recognise the pattern here: sharp instincts, but a bike that still needs taming.
Motegi Grand Prix Schedule Takes Shape
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix schedule takes place at Motegi, the track at the centre of the Ai Ogura Motegi MotoGP story this week. It gives him a home race to measure how far his adaptation has come. Full details of the calendar sit in the Japanese Grand Prix schedule, as reported by Speedweek.
Ogura’s own comments were first reported by Speedweek. His remarks follow a tough recent stretch that included his recent Misano injury absence, after an earlier Misano withdrawal disrupted his season.
Motegi will offer the first real test of whether he can close that gap. He’s been honest about where he stands.
