– Recognizing talents before they become visible to everyone is one of the most important skills of a successful team manager. Davide Brivio has proven multiple times in his long career that he has a good instinct for riders.
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Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, Joan Mir at Suzuki, and now Ai Ogura at Trackhouse are examples that Brivio often relied on riders who were waiting for their breakthrough.
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, a partner site of Motorsport-Total.com, the Italian looks back and explains why Ogura was already a rider who caught his attention long before his Moto2 world championship title in 2024 and his recent MotoGP success.
Ogura flew under the radar: Brivio saw potential
When Trackhouse was dealing with rider planning, Ai Ogura was not yet an obvious candidate for many teams. Although the Japanese rider had already shown his talent, the big hype initially did not materialize. That was exactly where Brivio saw an opportunity.
An important role was played by Matteo Baiocco, who as a rider coach at Trackhouse Racing observes the young talents. “We had him in our sights for a long time, and I have to give Matteo Baiocco a lot of credit because he follows the young riders at the track very closely,” says Brivio.
Baiocco kept drawing his attention to Ogura: “Whenever we talked, he said to me: ‘This boy – Ai Ogura – is really good.'”
Trackhouse maintained its own list of potential riders, but Ogura stood out to Brivio particularly for one reason: his riding style. “What really struck me was that his riding style already seemed perfect for MotoGP.”
Above all, the way Ogura moved the motorcycle reminded Brivio of a rider who was already ready for the step up. “The way he came out of the corners, how he straightened the motorcycle, that looked like the riding style of a rider who is already prepared for the premier class,” explains the Italian.
Never give up: Ogura’s greatest strength according to Brivio
Besides his technique, Brivio was especially impressed by Ogura’s race intelligence. The Japanese rider is not one to give up after a bad start or a difficult qualifying.
“I also liked the fact that sometimes he had bad starts but always fought his way back through the field,” he recalls. According to Brivio, this trait is also evident in Ogura in MotoGP. “He is someone who never gives up.”
It is not just pure speed that distinguishes him. Ogura has the ability to find solutions during a race and work his way forward. “Even if he qualified poorly, he repeatedly managed to show impressive comebacks and regain many positions.” According to the Italian, this ability is no coincidence but part of Ogura’s character.
Once underestimated, then Moto2 world champion
Nevertheless, the Japanese rider was by no means considered a big favorite when Trackhouse signed Ogura. After losing the Moto2 title the previous year, some observers even doubted whether he could actually win a championship.
Brivio recaps the situation: “When we signed him, he was only third in the championship and was not even considered one of the favorites. The year before, he had lost the Moto2 title in the last race, so many people thought he was not capable of winning a championship.”
Photo gallery: The career highlights of Ai Ogura
But Ogura disproved these doubts: “Instead, he proved the opposite to everyone.” For Trackhouse, the signing became a confirmation of their own philosophy: not just looking at results but assessing riders in the long term.
A shared victory was the last big goal
But already after this season, Brivio and Ogura’s paths will separate again. Ogura will leave Trackhouse for Yamaha, Brivio will go to Honda. Against this background, one last shared goal emerged.
“We told each other: Before we go our separate ways, we have to win a race together,” reveals Brivio. That moment finally came in Assen.
For the departing Trackhouse team manager, the victory was not only a sporting success but also emotionally significant. “I think it also means a lot to Ai to see his team celebrate and to see his crew so happy,” emphasizes the Italian and adds: “It was a wonderful journey with Ogura, and I believe he will always remain part of Trackhouse’s history.”
Why Ogura suddenly gets stronger at the end of the race
One of Ogura’s most striking characteristics is his strength in the last laps of a race. While other riders struggle with fading tires, the Japanese rider often seems to still have reserves. Brivio sees no surprise in this. “He is exceptionally good at managing his tires,” he analyzes.
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This ability had already shown in Moto2, even if it received less attention then. And also at the beginning of his MotoGP time, this pattern was visible. “Over the last seven, eight, or ten laps, he often had the pace of the top-4 riders,” highlights Brivio.
The problem: If a rider is too far back, this strength is not always noticed. “Sometimes he might have been in twelfth place and too far from the front. Then it is less noticeable if you don’t look closely at the times.”
Narrow line between saving and attacking
According to Brivio, Ogura’s strength lies in not wasting energy and tires: “He saves energy in the first part of the race and uses what he has held back in the last laps.” However, such an approach also needs to be further developed.
Sometimes Ogura delayed the moment to attack a bit too long. “There were situations where he probably started this process a bit too late and could have attacked earlier.” But according to Brivio, such details are part of the learning process of a young MotoGP rider.
He is particularly impressed by Ogura’s ability to learn. “One of his greatest qualities is that he is always ready to learn. He absorbs information and then knows how to apply it.” For Brivio, this development never ends: “Even in ten years, there will still be things to learn.”
Raul Fernandez: How he found his way out of the slump
While Ogura was a talent that had to be recognized early for Brivio, Raul Fernandez’s story was different. For the Spaniard, it was less about finding speed. That was always there. The challenge was to be able to call it up consistently.
Photo gallery: The career highlights of Raul Fernandez
Fernandez was already considered exceptionally fast in Moto2. As a rookie, he won eight races and fought for the title until the season finale. However, the move to MotoGP, which he made in 2022, was more difficult than expected.
Brivio does not see the reason in a lack of talent. “The greatest credit goes to his talent. Raul has always had enormous talent,” he says. But consistency was missing.
Realistic goals instead of lost confidence
The season before Fernandez’s breakthrough was difficult for Trackhouse. Points were rare, top-15 finishes were sometimes already a success. Brivio describes this phase as a turning point. “We had a very honest conversation about the situation and began setting realistic goals,” the Italian looks back.
He tried to mentally realign Fernandez. Because in his assessment, success may have come too early for the Spaniard: “Maybe he won too much too early in Moto2.” Eight wins in the first Moto2 year and the title fight could have even made his confidence more difficult.
In MotoGP, however, the conditions changed fundamentally. “Things became much harder, and maybe he began to lose faith in himself.”
Brivio sees mental change as key
The solution was to return step by step. “First score points. Then get into the top 10. Then slowly move forward,” explains Brivio the approach. After that, Fernandez completely changed his attitude: “He completely changed his mindset.”
With better results, confidence also returned. The final breakthrough followed with the win in Australia. This result confirmed to Fernandez that he can belong to the best riders again. “The win in Australia completed this entire process,” explains Brivio.
Also off the track, Fernandez made important progress. Brivio particularly highlights his training methods. “He significantly improved and refined his training methods last year. He understood much better what he personally needs to deliver his best performance.”
Recognition for Aprilia: Important success factor
Besides the development of the riders, Brivio also sees a decisive factor in the motorcycle itself. Aprilia has made a big step in recent years. “We often talk about teams and riders, but recognition is also due to Aprilia,” emphasizes the Trackhouse team manager. The manufacturer from Noale builds “very competitive motorcycles that are very well developed.”
According to Brivio, this foundation also changes the mental starting position. You come to the track knowing that you have the potential to achieve something important.” This confidence gives riders and teams additional energy that can ultimately make the decisive difference on the track.
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