Yamaha signs Ai Ogura for 2027 MotoGP season in factory team shake-up

Yamaha has decided to sign Ai Ogura for the 2027 MotoGP season, where he will partner Jorge Martin in the manufacturer’s factory team, Motorsport has learned.

The Japanese rider, currently in his second MotoGP campaign with the Trackhouse Racing team aboard an Aprilia, will replace Alex Rins, following Fabio Quartararo’s long-confirmed move to Honda.

With this move, Yamaha completes its factory line-up. The Moto2 world champion will join Martin, who secured the premier class title in 2024 – the same year Ogura claimed the Moto2 crown.

Ogura made a strong impression during his rookie MotoGP campaign in 2025, highlighted by an outstanding fifth-place finish in Buriram on his debut – which ultimately stood as his best result of the season. In 2026, Ogura again finished fifth in both Thailand and Brazil, before a mechanical issue on his Aprilia took him out of podium contention – and the race altogether – at Austin 10 days ago.

The 25-year-old Japanese rider was developed within Honda’s system before a fallout with senior management led him to part ways with the manufacturer in his final Moto2 season, when he went on to win the title with a Boscoscuro machine run by the MT Helmets team.

Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

This somewhat unexpected move closes the door on other candidates for the second M1 seat, including Luca Marini. Motorsport understands that Yamaha has already informed the Marini camp of its decision to sign Ogura. Just days earlier, Dani Holgado had thanked Yamaha for its interest but confirmed his decision to join Gresini Racing, where he will race a Ducati.

Ogura’s move leaves a vacancy at Trackhouse, which the American outfit led by Justin Marks will now need to fill. Given the current market situation, the most logical outcome would be for the team to retain Raul Fernandez, although Ogura’s departure will force them to explore a rider market that could close within the next month.

In any case, announcements regarding both completed and pending signings remain on hold until the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (formerly known as Dorna) reach an agreement and sign the contract that will define their commercial framework for the next five years.