Before the MotoGP season kicks off Neil Hodgson has pinpointed two riders which he believes will surprise fans throughout 2025.

The 2025 MotoGP World Championship will get underway this weekend in Thailand.

Ahead of the season starting TNT Sports MotoGP Pundit, Neil Hodgson, has highlighted two riders which he expects to be the biggest dark horses.

In an exclusive interview with BSN, Hodgson said: "There are two people that I am going to mention:

"One is Ai Ogura, obviously, he won the Moto2 Championship last year, but the Trackhouse team were disappointing. In all honesty, I thought they would have done a bit better.

"We all rate Ogura but I did not know if he was a top ten MotoGP rider. But if you look at the MotoGP pre-season testing he looks like he potentially is. It would be a surprise for me if he could get inside the top ten on a regular basis.

"The next one I am going to say, and it will probably be a surprise, but Joan Mir.

"He has been awful [at Honda], it has just not worked for him, I feel sorry for him. I have never seen someone go so slow and crash. He is so talented, I am a Mir fan and he won the MotoGP World Championship, the lad can ride a bike. 

"He is really determined and I know he is not giving in. If you look at where he finished in the Championship, it was near on last, on a factory Honda.

"Nobody expects anything from him but I think he could be a dark horse. If Honda gives him a motorcycle that gives him the right feeling, then he has a chance to show his true ability."

Watch all the action from the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+ starting with the Thailand Grand Prix on Friday 28th February. TNT Sports and discovery+ is the home of motorbikes with coverage of every race from MotoGP, FIM World Superbikes, Bennetts British Superbikes and FIM Speedway GP. Follow @tntsportsbikes to keep up with all the action on social media.