Honda is participating in the FIM MotoGP World Championship in the Moto2 category as IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia, to discover and encourage riders from the Asia region to compete at the highest level.
Honda has announced the drivers who will participate in the 2021 season with this team.
Somkiat Chantra will continue to represent the Idemitsu Honda Team Asia. His teammate will be Ai Ogura, which changes category after two successful seasons in Moto3, where there is still a race to go for the world title in 2020.
Hiroshi Aoyama will continue in his role as team manager.
Hiroshi Aoyama - Leader :
« First of all, I want to thank Idemitsu and all our sponsors. We are happy to continue the 2021 season in two World Championship categories. In Moto2, we will have Somkiat Chantra and Ai Ogura. We would like to see Chantra continue in this category because this continuity gives him the opportunity to show how competitive he can be, as he has the speed and ability to handle these big bikes. We want to see how he can progress during the season. As for Ogura, it will be a new challenge for him, coming from Moto3. It will be a challenge for him, but we think he has enough speed and talent to compete in Moto2. In summary, we have a very young and talented group of drivers, and we would like to see how they can perform and how they can ride the 2021 season. »
Somkiat Chantra :
« Of course, I am delighted to continue for the third year with this team. I would like to thank the support of Honda, Idemitsu, AP Honda and everyone who helps me develop as a rider within this fantastic team. This year has been complicated because the level is extremely high. I'm improving my times a lot compared to last year, but everyone else has also taken that step forward. The only thing I can do is promise that next year I will continue to work even harder. »
Ai Ogura :
« First of all, I would like to thank the support of all the sponsors and the team. Since 2019 we have an excellent technical package to achieve good results. We worked hard together. Before arriving in the World Championship, I already thought that the perfect plan was to do two years in Moto3 before the next step. Now I can do it, and I'm happy about it. It will be a new bike, with new opponents, difficult, for sure, but I will try to work like now, step by step. »
