A “thrilled” Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, has explained what prꦑompted the American Mot🌺oGP squad to sign Ai Ogura for 2025.

Prior🔴 to last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Trackhouse announced that it had signed Moto2 title co🔴ntender Ogura to a two-year deal to race for the satellite Aprilia squad.

Ogura became a shock contender for the seat in recent weeks, going against conventional wisdom that he would alm🍎ost certainly make his MotoGP debut with LCR Honda whenever he decided to make the step.

The Japan🀅ese replaces Pramac-bound Miguel Oliveira and will ꦯjoin Raul Fernandez in what is a fairly young line-up at the Aprilia team.

Speaking about its decision, Marks said that selecting Fernandez’s team-mate was a “long process” but several fact🧔ors stood out with Ogura.

“We’re thrilled to have him join the team,” heꦗ said.

“I think it was a very long process in determinಞing what the future looked l✤ike for our rider line-up.

“It was pretty e💃asy with Raul, he’s really improving a lot and learning the bike and working well with t🌼he team.

“And for our second rider, there are a lot of factors that go into 🧸that decision and we looked at a lot of different options and we were excited by Ai’s talent, his dedication, his speed this year, his focu🅺s.

“And from a business standpoint, it’s great to have a ri꧋der who represents Asia and a rider who repr꧂esents Europe.

“So, all in all, it just checked a lot of boxes for us and we’re, as a group, vಌery bullish and excited about Ogura’s potential and opportunity and future.”

Though Oliveꩵira will be leaving at the end of the year, Marks insists the five-time grand prix winner’s experience will still prove vital for Apri🐽lia’s bike development for the remainder of the season.

“There’s all these rider moves in the middle of the💃 season, so with all this news you’re thinking about what next year looks like, what are the challenges for next year♛,” he added.

“But there is still a lot of ra𒁏cing to do this year. There’s still a lot to learn about the Aprilia bikes and there’s still a lot to fight for.

“Miguel is an incredible ta🌃lent, a popular rider, an experienced and successful r☂ider.

“So, I think there’s a lot we can still learn this year with him. Obviously he’s got a tremendous amount of speed, he’s been on the pod✃ium this year in a sprint race.

“So, there’s still a lot to fight for and we have a lot of racing left. Wꦉe really want to be good partners with Aprilia 💝and help develop the bike with the Aprilia factory team, and he [Oliveira] figures prominently in that. So, a lot to fight for.”