After leaving Honda for Aprilia, Ai Ogura stated he decided to choose the 'more competitive bike'.

Ai Ogura's MotoGP career began last weekend at the Thai Grand Prix with the Trackhouse Racing squad.

On his debut weekend, the Japanese rider finished fourth in the Sprint Race and fifth in the Grand Prix on the Aprilia RS-GP. However, once upon a time there was a chance that his career could have looked very different.

Ogura had ridden for the Honda Team Asia squad in Moto3 and Moto2 for five years, he was also heavily linked to join the LCR Honda IDEMITSU squad in MotoGP. But he ultimately turned down the offer to ride for Honda in MotoGP.

Eventually Trackhouse Racing and Davide Brivio approached Ogura in 2024 while he was riding for MT Helmets - MSi in Moto2.

"It was a nice surprise," Ogura told Speedweek.com when he was asked about meeting with Brivio for the first time.

"That was in Assen or at the Sachsenring in the middle of the season. I drove for Honda for so long and was then contacted by the Trackhouse team."

It is unusual for a Honda prodigee to switch allegiances and join a European manufacturer. However, Ogura 'chose the bike that looked a bit more competitive'.

"You always have that risk," emphasised the 25-year-old.

"If I don't perform well at Honda, then I won't be there after two years. In that respect, it doesn't really matter which bike I'm on.

"I chose the bike that looked a bit more competitive at the time, that's all. I hope that everything is OK between me and Honda.

"For me it is, but I don't know how they are. It would be nice if I could end my career with Honda."