Login

u/r2lim

r/ja r/motogp r/MotoAmerica r/motogpbrasil
▲ 861 r/motogp

Ai working part-time painting helmets at Arai

The following is a summary of an excerpt from the Source. Please refer to the original Source for the full text.

---

Ogura’s relationship with Arai goes beyond simply receiving support. He once worked part-time at Arai’s factory at the recommendation of former GP racer Hiroshi Aoyama, with the aim of developing his social skills.

Arai’s Kenji Endo recalls, “He wasn’t very talkative and wasn’t the type to stand out by promoting himself, but he was a kid who could express his own opinions when necessary.”

He also had the sincerity to give all of his part-time wages to his parents, saying that racing had placed a financial burden on his family.

Endo believes that the experience of learning about the manufacturing process, which involves many skilled craftsmen, and developing a different attitude toward the equipment he entrusts his life to has influenced the way he races and his results.

.

Source https://carview.yahoo.co.jp/news/detail/125e0feb51d5acd85a66a4b94bd857be6da3af46/

u/r2lim — 4 days ago
▲ 265 r/motogp

Ai Ogura and his Arai helmets

The images show Ai Ogura with his Arai helmet featuring the eye design. This is where their relationship began.

.

Ai once worked part-time at Arai Helmets, where he was involved in painting helmets, including those belonging to other riders.

---

Arai is the helmet I consider the safest. If there is something safer than Arai, I would use it. I simply like the way it looks, too.

When did you start using Arai?

I was very young, so I don't remember exactly, but I've been using Arai since I was about five. (At first, I used some weird, non-round helmet that I didn't really understand.)

My father liked Arai and thought it was the coolest, so he had me wear one.

What are your preferences when it comes to the design?

First of all, I like blue, so I wanted to have blue in the center as the base color.

I like the sharp, angular lines on the sides. I really like them.

I don't care that much about the other colors, but Team Asia was red, so I included red.

Also, I've had the A mark on my helmet since I started using my original design, so as long as there is a place for it, I think I'll keep it there for the rest of my career.

The helmet design is the rider's face, so I don't really want to keep changing it all the time.

I think it's enough to make small, playful changes for occasions such as the Japanese GP.

Regarding his move to MT Helmets-MSi

(Ai joined the MSi team in 2024, with helmet manufacturer MT Helmets as its main sponsor.) He initially turned down the offer. He was later offered the condition that he would be allowed to continue using Arai helmets, so he also obtained permission from Arai, and the move eventually went ahead.

---

The content above has been compiled by the author from Ai's comments at talk shows and other events over several years, so these are not necessarily continuous remarks from a single interview.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cxus-bNr4Q&t=294s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBtUkChDoA&t=1047s
https://www.arai.co.jp/jpn/arainews/images/an_2212.pdf

u/r2lim — 5 days ago
▲ 61 r/motogp

Ai Ogura also grew up on this bike! About the 74Daijiro pocket bike, born from Daijiro Kato’s legacy

Daijiro Kato won the 250cc World Championship in 2001, taking 11 wins from 16 races, tying the record for the most wins in a season. He suffered serious injuries at the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6, 2003, and passed away on April 20 at the age of 26.

During his lifetime, Kato told his friends that he wanted to “make an original bike for children” and “show children the joy of racing and see a world champion emerge from among them.” In response to this wish, his father, Takashi Kato, played a central role in developing the pocket bike known as 74Daijiro.

A racing series called the Daijiro Cup is also held using 74Daijiro bikes. Some riders compete in the Bambino class at the age of three, and Daijiro Kato’s wish continues to bear fruit.

Ai Ogura, Ayumu Sasaki, and Taiyo Furusato are among the riders who came through 74Daijiro. 74Daijiro continues to support the development of young riders in Japan’s motorcycle racing scene today.

---

Features

The tire size was increased from the 4-inch tires that were traditionally common on pocket bikes to 6-inch tires, significantly improving riding stability. It was designed as a full-fledged kids’ road racer.

  • Frame: Aluminum press frame with no welding used.
  • Tires: Bridgestone Racing Battlax R01 slicks, developed specifically for 74Daijiro.
  • Engine: Air-cooled, 2-stroke, case-reed-valve single-cylinder, 40.2 cm³
  • Maximum output: 2.0 kW [2.7 PS]
  • Dimensions: Approximately 930 mm overall length, approximately 380 mm seat height, approximately 17 kg dry weight.

.

Sources:

Motor-Fan
74Daijiro official site
74Daijiro product information

The image shows the Ogura Replica made by Ai Ogura and his family.

u/r2lim — 7 days ago
▲ 97 r/motogp

MotoGP 2026. EXCLUSIVE – Joan Mir, new Gresini rider: “Instead of saying, ‘Ah, this guy won a world championship with Suzuki...’”

The following is a summary of selected quotes from the article. Please refer to the original article for the full text and precise nuances.

.

Honda: Yesterday and Today

Since joining Honda in 2023, Mir has seen improvements in the engine characteristics and aerodynamics, but the fundamental character of the bike has not changed much. Even during Honda’s extremely difficult period, as the European manufacturers have gained strength, he takes some pride in having managed to score podium finishes.

Having consistently fought at the front, including winning the 2020 title, finishing third in 2021, and sitting fourth in the championship until Suzuki announced its withdrawal in 2022, he found it mentally difficult to accept being unable to reach the podium. At one point, he even considered retirement. In 2020 and 2021, when he had a competitive bike, managing the risks was relatively easy. With the current Honda, however, he has to ride beyond the limit to set competitive lap times, which has consequently led to many crashes.

---

World Title: “I won with Suzuki. Nobody had done that before!”

Mir feels that his 2020 title has not been given enough credit. He saw winning with Suzuki as a major challenge, as the manufacturer had been without a title for 20 years, since Kenny Roberts Jr. won the 500cc World Championship in 2000, and he wanted to achieve “something nobody had done before.” However, he is frustrated that people tend to focus on things like “he was very consistent” or “he only won one race” rather than the significance of that achievement.

Regarding the “only one race win” criticism, he points out that he would have won in Austria as well if Maverick Viñales had not suffered his brake failure, which would have given him two wins. Even so, Mir believes that the significance of winning the title with Suzuki should not be judged simply by the number of race victories. It was something nobody had achieved before, and he believes that people who understand racing and motorcycles appreciate its value.

---

If Mir Were to Build the Ideal Rider

  • Braking: Joan Mir
  • Direction changes: Pedro Acosta
  • Cornering speed: Marco Bezzecchi
  • One-lap pace: Jorge Martín
  • Media skills: Marc Márquez

.
Edit: The original article incorrectly stated that Suzuki had been without a title for 27 years since Kevin Schwantz in 1993. The correct figure is 20 years, since Kenny Roberts Jr. won the 500cc World Championship in 2000. This was an error by the Moto.it editorial team, not Joan Mir.

moto.it
u/r2lim — 8 days ago
▲ 277 r/motogp

Trackhouse is looking for a rider on LinkedIn!

>‼️ WE'RE HIRING! ‼️

Location: Global — the calendar decides, not you 
Manufacturer: Aprilia Factory Programme 
Employment Type: Full-Time, Performance-Based (Renewal Subject to Results)

About Us -

The SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team races factory-spec Aprilia machinery at the top level of the sport, alongside teammate Raúl Fernández. We value speed, precision, and a healthy relationship with risk.

What You'll Do -

Operate a motorcycle at speeds north of 220 mp/h, ideally while facing forwards.
Translate 45 minutes of controlled chaos into calm, technical feedback for your engineers.
Handle press conferences and sponsor commitments with visible composure.
Maintain a respectful, occasionally combative relationship with gravel traps.
Wear leather to work. Every day. Non-negotiable.

What We're Looking For -

Proven form in Moto2, Moto3, or a suspiciously competitive local karting scene.
Reflexes that outrun conscious thought.
Comfortable being out-briefed in the data room and out-quipped in the press room.
A resting heart rate your GP will want to discuss.
Fluent in English, conversational in Apologising (Italian a strong plus).
Appetite for risk; zero appetite for finishing outside the points.

Nice to Haves -

A race number you're irrationally attached to.
A signature celebration that doesn't require your dominant wrist.
Strong, unprompted opinions on tire allocation.

Compensation & Benefits -

Competitive salary, inversely proportional to gravel-trap frequency.
Full medical. You'll need it.
Team-issued motorcycle (returns not accepted, also not really possible).
Unlimited ice baths, physio, and mild existential dread.
Champagne on Sundays, when applicable.

Source https://www.linkedin.com/posts/were-hiring-locationglobal-share-7492145945384542208-q6Xe/

u/r2lim — 9 days ago
▲ 44 r/motogp

Ai Ogura: A Smiling Report on His Fishing and a Japanese Interview

In the image, Ai is asked, “Did you have much success by the river? Any big catches?” and replies, “It’s really good this time, almost my record. So yeah, that’s good.”

.

How did you spend your summer break?

I think I was able to do what I wanted to do during these three weeks of summer break. It was more or less a normal summer break, and I was able to do various things I had planned. I think it was a good summer break.

---

What do you think of the circuit?

For me, it’s quite a difficult circuit, and there have only been a few times when I’ve been able to ride fast here. I think it will be quite a difficult weekend, but I think I can do better than last year, and depending on how things go, I think I may be able to aim for a decent position in the race. I’ll do my best.

---

The second half of the season starting from second in the championship

I’m in a good position in the championship after the first half of the season, so I hope I can focus on my riding and what I need to do and ultimately finish the second half of the season in a good way as well. I don’t want to think too much about the championship position. I just want to focus on our riding and do my best.

.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cgi3ZyI3Pk

This video may not be available due to geoblocking.

u/r2lim — 12 days ago