Moto2 leader will make debut on MotoGP bike in Ai Ogura's place, according to Davide Brivio
Manuel González, current Moto2 championship leader, may make his debut on a MotoGP bike tomorrow during testing at Aragon, taking Ai Ogura's place on the Trackhouse team's Aprilia. The confirmation was advanced by Davide Brivio, team principal, in statements to motogp.com.
'For the moment it is a breaking rumour. It's not 100% confirmed but yes we are working on that. We are trying to define the details and to see what is possible,' Brivio explained. 'It is something very simple, we had the bike here and there is a test tomorrow and we thought it would be important to give the opportunity to a young rider to test a MotoGP and Manu González is testing the championship on Moto2, is doing a good season and deserve it.'
The Italian official made sure to clarify that this is just an opportunity for the young Spanish rider, dismissing any speculation about a possible signing. 'I think this speculation can stop here. We had riders under contract for 2026, we are not looking for a rider, and he can't race in Mugello in case Ai Ogura isn't racing, so there is nothing more in that, this is just an opportunity for a young rider and we are happy to make a present, a gift to a young boy because testing in MotoGP is a unique opportunity and that's it.'
Brivio admitted that the decision to allow the test inevitably generates media speculation, but defended the initiative as a gesture towards young talents. 'Then unfortunately we are aware that then it starts speculation, rumours and this is the annoying part to be honest, which makes us wondering whether is better or not to do, but then at the end we say "Ok, it's nice, we give a present to a young rider to test a MotoGP bike" and that's it. Then we will have to manage what you [press] going to do.'
