The Moto2 paddock erupted in celebrations as Japan’s Ai Ogura clinched the Moto2 World Championship title at the Thai Grand Prix. With a nail-biting performance, Ogura's second-place finish was enough to make him Japan's first Moto2 champion since 2009, marking a monumental moment in Japanese motorsport history.
Here are visuals of winning celebrations:
Starting strong from pole position at Buriram, Ogura seemed poised to take the victory. However, Spain's Aron Canet swiftly challenged his lead, snatching the front position in the opening corners. The race was no easy run for Ogura, as he faced fierce competition, especially from Diogo Moreira, who briefly led the race alongside Canet.
A tense atmosphere followed when Fermin Aldeguer, in an overly aggressive manoeuvre, collided with Tony Arbolino on the first lap, causing both riders to crash out. Aldeguer’s move didn’t go unpunished, as he was handed a penalty for the collision. Meanwhile, Ogura fell to seventh place by the second lap, losing ground to Canet, who now led with steady pressure from Marcos Ramirez and Jake Dixon in pursuit.
A journey to remember for Ogura!
Ogura’s journey back to the top five wasn’t easy. A spirited push from Alonso Lopez, who had impressively started from 14th, alongside overtakes from Moreira and Dixon, challenged Ogura’s climb. A critical moment came when Ogura, now in sixth, collided with Darryn Binder during a battle for fifth place. Undeterred, Ogura maintained his composure, strategically moving forward and ultimately securing third position.
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As the laps counted down, Ogura surged ahead, overtaking Ramírez to claim second, putting him in prime position for the title. With only nine laps to go, he aimed for the ultimate victory, but Canet maintained his lead. A sudden sprinkle of rain added to the tension in the final laps, with the weather threatening to disrupt Ogura’s dreams of a championship-clinching win.
With two laps remaining, conditions worsened, forcing race officials to wave the red flag, ending the race prematurely. Canet celebrated a well-earned victory, but it was Ogura whose celebrations stole the spotlight as his second-place finish secured the Moto2 World Championship title.
In his post-race reflection, Ogura expressed his gratitude for the support he’s received throughout his journey. His historic achievement brings immense pride to Japan, reestablishing a legacy of Japanese talent in Moto2 and paving the way for the next generation of riders.
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