According to Motorsport.com Italia, Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Paolo Pavesio has opened up about the major decisions shaping the manufacturer's future in MotoGP. Yamaha is set to lose Fabio Quartararo at the end of the 2026 season. Despite currently sitting at the bottom of the constructors' standings, the Iwata manufacturer has made significant moves ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, which will introduce 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, and the banning of ride-height devices. To tackle this new era, Yamaha has secured the signings of current championship leader Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura.
While Martin claimed the world championship in 2024, Ogura has emerged as the standout revelation of the 2026 season. Initial impressions might have suggested that the Japanese rider's nationality played a role in the recruitment, given the nation's long-held dream of a homegrown hero at the pinnacle of the sport. However, Pavesio firmly rejected that notion during his conversation with Motorsport.com.
"When you arrive at this level, the flag for me doesn't count," Pavesio explained. He noted that while commercial importance can sometimes be a factor under equal conditions, Ogura stands out purely on talent. Pavesio added that if Ogura continues to grow, he could become one of the two or three strongest Japanese riders in history, acknowledging that this brings pressure, but a welcome one.
Pavesio also revealed that negotiations with Ogura happened at lightning speed. It was much faster than expected because the rider wanted to join Yamaha and the team wanted him. That mutual desire closed the deal rapidly, bringing a heightened sense of motivation and responsibility to the garage.
Beyond the rider market, Pavesio touched on a broader cultural issue regarding the fading motorcycle passion in Japan. Recalling his first trip to Tokyo twenty-five years ago, he described a city brimming with modified scooters and bikes, a scene that has since vanished due to strict parking bans and noise regulations. With crowd numbers dropping at events like the Suzuka 8 Hours, Pavesio believes Ogura's meteoric rise—highlighted by his maiden victory at Assen and a title challenge cut short by an injury in training before Misano—can help reignite that dormant passion in a country that still produces fifty percent of the world's motorcycles.
Tags: Ai Ogura, Paolo Pavesio, Jorge Martin, Fabio Quartararo Team: Yamaha Motor Racing, Trackhouse Racing Circuit: Assen, Misano, Suzuka Series: MotoGP
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