Rating the prospects of MotoGP’s 2025 rookie crop

Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra have a troublesome act to comply with after they transfer as much as MotoGP this 12 months.

Pedro Acosta raised the bar so excessive when he made his debut with Tech3 GasGas in 2024 that regardless of the trio obtain this 12 months gained’t be seen in the identical mild.

That stated, all three be a part of MotoGP as race winners in Moto2, and the way they combine with the championship’s established riders might be fascinating to observe in 2025.

Ai Ogura

Ai Ogura is well the most popular prospect among the many three rookies on the 2025 grid. Trackhouse may have simply opted for an skilled rider to switch the outgoing Miguel Oliveira, or signed the extra commercially-attractive choice in American Joe Roberts. However group boss Davide Brivio has at all times had an eye fixed for expertise, and by placing his religion in Ogura he has discovered one other star that would comply with within the footsteps of Jorge Lorenzo, Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

The very announcement about Ogura stepping as much as MotoGP in August spurred on the Japanese teen in Moto2. Whereas a sudden droop in team-mate Sergio Garcia’s efficiency performed its half, Ogura was merely the quickest and probably the most constant rider within the second half of final season, and was capable of clinch the title with two rounds to spare.

The previous Honda protege has discovered the leap from Moto2 to MotoGP ‘simpler’ than the one he confronted in 2021 when he graduated to the intermediate class from Moto3. He spent most of pre-season testing specializing in lengthy runs, finishing two full race simulations in Sepang and emulating a dash at Buriram. On the ultimate day of the take a look at, he unleashed the complete velocity of his Aprilia RS-GP, setting the seventh-quickest time throughout a time assault.

It wasn’t an ideal two weeks for the 24-year-old, who suffered a small crash in the beginning of the Sepang take a look at and admitted that he wanted time to get the perfect out of MotoGP’s carbon brakes. Nonetheless, his swift adaptation to the bike caught the eye of his rivals, and it will be fascinating to see how he performs within the early races of 2025 earlier than he correctly will get into the groove. With Aprilia missing continuity going into 2025 following a serious rider line-up shuffle, and Jorge Martin lacking nearly the whole lot of testing as a result of an damage, Ogura may properly present the Noale-based model with a great addition.

Fermin Aldeguer

Fermin Aldeguer was set to progress to MotoGP in 2024, however was then compelled into contesting one other 12 months of Moto2

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Fermin Aldeguer is one other rookie sure to get a variety of consideration this 12 months. His type in Moto2 in 2023, together with a four-race win streak on the finish of that season, resulted in him being lured by VR46 and even Honda for a direct commencement to MotoGP. In the end, his contract with SpeedUp compelled him to remain within the intermediate class for a 3rd season, however he was signed by Ducati for 2025 earlier than the primary race of the 12 months.

Satirically, Aldeguer’s inventory would have been larger had he stepped as much as MotoGP right away final season. In spite of everything, his 2023 Moto2 marketing campaign was higher than his 2024 exhibiting by each metric. Nonetheless, with three wins and two different podium finishes, it was nonetheless a stable season for the Spaniard, who now has one other 12 months of world championship expertise beneath his belt.

Aldeguer was initially destined to hitch Pramac in 2025, however the squad’s departure from Ducati’s satellite tv for pc roster means he’ll race for Gresini as an alternative. However the family-like environment at Gresini may really profit the 19-year-old in his rookie season by taking the stress away from him. Having Frankie Carchedi as his crew chief is a serious plus level, too.

Aldeguer placed on a stable present in pre-season testing, following the lead of latest group chief Alex Marquez. He was the quickest rookie at Sepang and was set to maintain his crown in Buriram till Ogura’s late heroics on the ultimate day of testing. 

Even so, Aldeguer’s efficiency in testing was spectacular, and with a Ducati GP24 beneath him, he’s the strongest contender for the rookie of the 12 months award.

Somkiat Chantra

Not a lot is anticipated of Somkiat Chantra, having accomplished six years of Moto2 with a sixth-placed end within the 2023 standings being his finest consequence

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Somkiat Chantra faces a baptism of fireplace on his step as much as MotoGP. Contemplating Thailand’s comparatively latest emergence in bike racing, Chantra’s transfer to the premier class is an achievement in itself. Nonetheless, given his lack of ends in the decrease lessons, and the truth that Honda is anticipated to be among the many slowest bikes on the grid, the 2025 season is more likely to be a wrestle for the 26-year-old.

To be truthful to Chantra, he did win two races in Moto2, together with his residence occasion in 2023 with Honda Group Asia. That routinely places him forward of Darryn Binder, who was by far the least-qualified rider to safe a MotoGP promotion in latest historical past. However it would nonetheless be an enormous activity for Chantra to match the velocity of the rider he’s changing, Takaaki Nakagami, who got here near profitable races in 2020 and had been a stable performer on an uncompetitive bike ever since.

Pre-season testing went easily for the LCR recruit; whereas he languished close to the underside of the pack, his one-lap tempo was in the identical ballpark as different tail-enders. That may have definitely disenchanted his naysayers, who anticipated him to be a second slower than everybody else.

Chantra spent six seasons in Moto2 and it wasn’t till his fourth 12 months that he gained a race. So it’s truthful to say it might take him a very long time to stand up to hurry in MotoGP. However with backing from Idemitsu and blessings from Honda, time is a luxurious that he can afford.

How will the 2025 rookie class fare in MotoGP?

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs