Ai Ogura is the new Moto2 world champion, becoming the first Japanese rider to secure a title since 2009. His second place in the Thai GP was enough, in a race at Buriram that was dominantly won by Arón Canet.
Ogura (MT Helmets-MSi/Boscoscuro) had a strong start from pole position to maintain the lead, but Arón Canet (Fantic Racing/Kalex) managed to overtake the Japanese rider in the opening corners. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team/Kalex) also briefly led the race.
On the first lap, Fermín Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp/Boscoscuro) was overly aggressive and collided with Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex), causing both to fall. Aldeguer would later be penalized.
By the second lap, Ogura had dropped to seventh, while Canet held the lead, pressured by Marcos Ramírez (OnlyFans American Racing Team/Kalex), with Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar/Kalex) in third. After starting from 14th, Alonso López (Beta Tools SpeedUp/Boscoscuro) had already moved up to fourth. The Spaniard, along with Moreira, contributed to Ogura’s delay, with all three going side by side in the same corner.
Absolute divebomb central! 💣@AiOgura79 goes from P2 to P7 after these overtakes at the last corner 📉#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/mZA1MmrULb
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 27, 2024
The top five would be enough for Ogura to become champion in this race, regardless of his rivals’ results. With 19 laps to go, the rider was in sixth place. However, in the battle for fifth position, he was involved in a collision with Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP/Kalex).
Overtake and CONTACT ⚔️@AiOgura79 passes @DarrynBinder_15 for 5th 👀#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/162o0D3YrD
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 27, 2024
With 15 laps remaining, Canet and Ramírez were battling for the lead, while Moreira was moving into podium positions ahead of Dixon and Ogura. The British rider fell behind, while Moreira and Ogura continued to contest the third spot, which the Japanese rider eventually secured.
Once in third, Ogura began to close in on the top two, and with nine laps to go, he overtook Ramírez. Now, he had only Canet ahead of him to celebrate the title with a victory. Seven laps from the end, light rain began to fall but did not intensify.
At the front, Canet controlled the situation to secure the win. With two laps to go, the rain increased, forcing an early finish with a red flag. Unable to catch the Spaniard, Ogura was the one who celebrated the most, as he secured the title with his second-place finish. Ramírez finished third, while Moreira lost his position to the home rider, Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia/Kalex), who finished fourth ahead of the Brazilian.
