Surprise from Yamaha, rumored to agree to recruit Ai Ogura for the 2027 season

JAKARTA - The Yamaha Factory Team came as a surprise after it was rumored to have agreed to recruit Ai Ogura. The Japanese racer, who is currently defending Trackhouse, is reportedly plotting to join the team for the 2027 season.

In the 2026 MotoGP, Ai Ogura's name is quite eye-catching. Although he has only entered his second season in MotoGP, he managed to break into the top 10 by sitting in seventh place this season.

The 25-year-old racer even occupies a position above a number of other well-known names in MotoGP, such as last season's runner-up Alex Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, to Fabio Quartararo.

This slick note is clearly a slick capital for Ogura to enter the rider transfer market. Moreover, most MotoGP riders currently have contracts with teams that expire at the end of this season.

Like Yamaha's main rider, Fabio Quartararo, who is reportedly moving to Honda next season. Then Yamaha is said to have agreed with the 2024 MotoGP champion, Jorge Martin.

In order to get the ideal tandem with Martin, the Japanese manufacturer targeted Ai Ogura. Quoted from Crash based on a Motorsport report, Yamaha also agreed with Ogura.

The emergence of rumors that Yamaha will recruit Ai Ogura, there will be two riders who are free transfer positions next season, namely Luca Marini and Alex Rins.

Luca Marini's time with Honda is said to be over. Next season, Honda will pair Quartararo with David Alonso. Then the LCR team has Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira.

Meanwhile, if Ogura is lost, Trackhouse prefers Joan Mir. If Tech3 leaves KTM and joins Honda, Marini still has a chance to join the satellite team. Then, Alex Rins' chances of staying on the MotoGP grid next season are relatively small.