MotoGP welcomes three new starters to the grid for the 2025 season. Pedro Acosta won the Player of the Year award by default last season, but this time there will be a real battle.
The hardest working rider is probably Somkyat Chantra. Chantra has to prove that he deserves a place. MotoGP – and not just for business reasons – after finishing 12th in Moto2 last year.
But the Thai rider, who will make his debut at his home Grand Prix in early March, could find himself on the worst bike on the grid. LCR finished second from the bottom of last year’s standings, ahead of only suppliers Honda.
| group | Bicycle | RIDER | RIDER |
| Ducati | Ducati | Mark Marquez | Francesco Bagnaia |
| VR46 | Ducati | Fabio D’Giantantonio | Franco Morbidelli |
| Gresini | Ducati | Alex Marquez | Fermin Aldeguer |
| KTM | KTM | Pedro Acosta | Brad Binder |
| Tech3 | KTM | Maverick Vinales | Ine Bastianini |
| Aprilia | Aprilia | George Martin | Marco Bezecchi |
| Tracking house | Aprilia | No. Ogura | Raul Fernandez |
| Yamaha | Yamaha | Fabio Quatararo | Alex Rin |
| Pramak | Yamaha | Miguel Oliveira | Jack Miller |
| Honda | Honda | Luca Marini | Joan Mir |
| LCR | Honda | Johann Zarko | Somkiat Chantra |
At the other end of the scale, Fermin Aldeguerre joins the Ducati stable with Gresini. Aldeger was disappointed to finish fifth in Moto2 last year, but George Martin rides the GP24 bike that led him to the world championship.
The VR46 is second in the Ducati rankings to the Gresini, but should still be able to score big results. Somewhere between the two sits the Moto2 champion No. Ogura.
Ogura rides for Aprilia bikes Tracking house After the team left Honda. It’s no Ducati, but Noale’s outfit will enjoy the 2025 machinery as they look to leapfrog KTM for second place in the overall pecking order.
Trackhouse became the first team to reveal the 2025 livery earlier this week. Unlike Aprilia’s spectacular debut, there was no press presence in North Carolina.
That’s good news for Ogura, who doesn’t like to give interviews. Speaking on The Race MotoGP podcast, journalist Simon Paterson said the Japanese rider was ‘honest’ about his stance.
Patterson explained that the 23-year-old showed no disrespect. In fact, he found it “exciting.”
“He’s got what I can only describe as a delightful disdain for working in the media,” he said. “He clearly hates it, and as a result he lets you know that through his body language and his words.
“You will not moan about it; Because he’s so honest – that’s how he feels, and he’s not here for it. It doesn’t seem disrespectful at all, which is part of what makes it so beautiful.
Patterson’s colleague Val Khorounzhi suggested that he may be wary of the press because English is not his first language. He doesn’t want to create headlines by using the wrong word in his answer.
Why David Brivio admits signing Ai Ogura was a ‘risk’
Ogura is one of eight Moto2 champions in the 2025 field, along with Acosta, Enea Bastianini, Marc and Alex Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco. It’s a statement signing for Trackhouse in their second MotoGP season.
But the team leader David Brivio is careful that Ogura is looking at a factory seat. A two-year deal has been signed, but the ‘risk’ is that a manufacturer could keep him until 2027.
Ogura moved up against Raul Fernandez to enter his fourth year in the championship. Brivio warned that Fernandez ‘must deliver’ After an unconvincing start in the premier class this season.
If Ogura can beat Fernandez in his rookie season, it could be life-threatening for the Spaniard.
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