It seemed like Joe Roberts would be guaranteed a MotoGP ride for the 2025 season when an American team arrived in MotoGP. However, ultimately he was overlooked for a ride in the Trackhouse squad.

It is widely known that Trackhouse and Roberts did hold discussions regarding a MotoGP ride in 2025. But in the end, fellow Moto2 rider, Ai Ogura was selected over the American.

This decision has resulted in many questions being thrown in the direction of Trackhouse Racing as to why they would not want to promote a talented American rider into the premier class.

Trackhouse Racing owner, Justin Marks, has explained why his team ended up choosing Ogura over Roberts.

“Why not anybody,” Marks stated when TNT Sport questioned him about not signing Roberts. “Everybody’s got a story, and I’m a big fan of Joe. I like Joe, I’m a big fan of his talent.

“I think the important thing is we have this big vision and big strategy as a company, and Trackhouse Racing MotoGP is the international expansion of the Trackhouse brand. And for us, it’s important to try to reach out to as many different cultures as possible, represent as many different parts of the world as possible.

“I think one day there is obviously an opportunity to have an American on our bikes. I think as a company we would like to make an investment in America at the entry level of motorcycle racing, try to make an impact to bring more talent at a younger age into motorcycle racing.

“But today, in 2024, 2025, this motorcycle racing team really represents an international expansion for the company and that was fundamentally important to us.”