Pre-season testing is always a crucial moment for new riders, especially those who are changing brands or making their MotoGP debut. In 2025, three rookies enter the arena: Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer, and Somkiat Chantra. Each of them must find their place in the peloton, but their challenges are different depending on the technical packages they have at their disposal.
Ai Ogura showed promising signs during the Buriram trials, where he finished 11th in the standings, just 781 thousandths behind the leader, with a good overall pace. The reigning Moto2 champion seemed to feel more and more comfortable on theAprilia RS-GP25 of the team TrackHouse Racing. He has focused on working with the team to find the ideal setup, and his progress has been evident. I am very happy with the performance" , said Ogura à speedweek.
He adds : " The Aprilia is a simple bike to ride, but having a good race pace is easier than doing a qualifying lap. » He also mentioned that he struggled at the beginning to get a good time, but that he managed to break through the three-tenths wall during the morning practice, notably by improving his braking.
For its part, Fermin Aldeguer, who drives for Gresini Racing team on a Ducati Desmosedici GP24, encountered more difficulties in Buriram. He finished 18th, 1″230 behind Marc Marquez. However, the young Spaniard had shown better performances at Sepang, supported by a Ducati very competitive.
Of the three rookies, Ai Ogura made the biggest impression during preseason testing.
Aldeguer focuses on the goal of becoming the best rookie of the season. My goal is to be the best rookie in 2025" he said. Although he is aware of the speed of his rivals Ogura et Chantra, he remains motivated and strives to progress. He also revealed that he had a conversation with Marc Marquez, who gave him advice on his riding style. MotoGP is still new to me, but I feel ready for the first race" , added Aldeguer.
Somkiat Chantra, which debuts with the Honda RC213V, faces a more complex challenge due to the less competitive technical package. But, like his two comrades, he is determined to progress and take up the challenge. The duel for the title of rookie of the year seems very open, with Ogura et Aldeguer who seem slightly ahead, but each of them still has obstacles to overcome to claim the title.
The 2025 season promises to be exciting for these three young drivers, each with their own path and challenges to overcome. The pre-season tests have laid the foundations, but we will have to wait until the first races to see how these rookies will perform against more experienced drivers.
