– Trackhouse has definitively evolved from an ambitious underdog to a contender for victory in MotoGP 2026, and thus also a serious factor in the title fight. Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez recently kept not only the direct competition but also their Aprilia brand colleagues at bay.
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Trackhouse team owner Justin Marks still does not want to be driven by the prospect of a possible title win. For him, one thing counts above all: the quality of the daily work. “We really don’t think about the championship. There is still so much racing left,” Marks explained in Silverstone.
Instead of looking at the overall standings, it is about viewing each Grand Prix individually and consistently working through the respective tasks. “If we take every race weekend and every day of every session according to the respective goal, then hopefully we can be in a position in Valencia where we look at the table and say: ‘Okay, now we can fight for a championship.'”
This approach is already paying off. After all, Trackhouse has developed into one of the strongest MotoGP teams in a comparatively short time. Six podiums in the last four Sunday races alone testify to this.
Marks: Trackhouse has special magic
Marks does not see the upswing as a coincidence. Rather, several factors come together: a competitive Aprilia RS-GP, two riders at an exceptionally high level, and a team that believes in its chance.
“The Aprilia bikes are really, really great right now,” emphasizes Marks. At the same time, both riders are “as good as they have ever been in their careers.” And the mechanics and engineers are “fully convinced of this opportunity.”
It is precisely this combination that is crucial for Marks. The American knows: the special dynamic of a new project can unleash enormous potential, an experience he already knows from his NASCAR involvement: “It’s not much different than with our NASCAR team, how it was early in the process there.”
Enthusiasm, passion, and the inspiration of a new project would make people exceed themselves. The real challenge is to maintain this energy over a long period.
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For Marks, this is currently the special strength of Trackhouse. “When all of this comes together in such a way that we come to the racetrack and just have fun, enjoy it, smile, and are happy about the opportunity we have in our lives, then the magic happens,” describes the team boss.
From underdog to title contender
Asked about Ai Ogura, who before the race weekend in Silverstone was still in second place in the overall standings only 14 points behind Jorge Martin, Marks highlights a special strength of the Japanese: his inner calm.
The Japanese is a “very balanced guy.” When the pressure increases, Ogura can mentally switch to a state where it is only about doing his job. “The rest is just noise,” Marks describes this ability.
For the Trackhouse boss, this is an extraordinary character trait and possibly a decisive one for a future MotoGP world champion. “I believe this kid is a champion,” Marks is sure. All the more he regrets that Ogura will switch to Yamaha at the end of the season.
“I don’t want Ai to leave our team. We are really quite sad about it,” says the American with regard to Ogura’s already confirmed future. At the same time, he emphasizes that riders have to make the decisions that are best for their careers. Trackhouse can therefore be especially glad that Ogura is currently taking the next step on his motorcycles.
“Right now, we’re just trying to get the most out of the time we have with this incredible young rider,” explains Marks. And maybe, the hope of the Trackhouse owner goes, the Japanese will one day return to the team and “manage to be a champion on our motorcycles.”
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