Honda Announces Riders for 2020 FIM Moto2 IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia and Moto3 Honda Team Asia

OCTOBER 4, 2019

October 4, 2019 – Honda is participating in the FIM* MotoGP World Championship Moto2 class as IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia, and the Moto3 class as Honda Team Asia, in order to discover and nurture from the Asia region riders to compete at the highest levels. Honda has announced its riders to compete in the 2020 season from these teams.

For IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia (Moto2), Somkiat Chantra (Thailand) will continue to represent the team. Honda will announce his teammate soon.

For Honda Team Asia (Moto3), Yuki Kunii will be newly joining Ai Ogura. Kunii is a graduate of the Suzuka Circuit Racing School, and currently competes in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship and the Red Bull Rookies Cup.

Hiroshi Aoyama will continue his role as team manager for both teams.

*FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme

■Moto2：IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia

Somkiat Chantra

“I’m excited to be able to compete in the world championship Moto2 class again for IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia in 2020. My goal for next season is to be on the podium, and I’ll do everything I can to get there. To my fans in Thailand and everywhere, I’ll do my very best!”

■Moto3：Honda Team Asia

Ai Ogura

“I’m grateful to Honda, our sponsors and everyone supporting me to give me the opportunity to continue racing in the Moto3 class next year. I’m very glad I can race for Honda Team Asia again. I learned a lot this season, and will use my newly gained experiences to race for results. Please support me in 2020.”

 Yuki Kunii

“Racing in the world championship Moto3 class has been my dream, and I’m truly glad it’s happening next year. Moto3 is highly competitive, so I want to learn a lot, and improve my speed. My goal is to do better in my debut year than Ai [Ogura]’s results this year. I want to start next year in the best possible condition, so I’ll be preparing hard.”

Hiroshi Aoyama | IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia / Honda Team Asia Manager

“I’m grateful for the continued support from IDEMITSU and our other sponsors, and for the opportunity to continue my role as team manager.

In the Moto2 class, Chantra performed exceptionally well this year, and I’m looking forward to better results in 2020. I’m confident he will be successful next year.

In the Moto3 class, Ogura made solid progress throughout the season, despite it being his rookie year. I’m sure he will finish higher up in the ranking next year. His teammate Kunii is just as fast. By our two riders competing and improving each other, I believe they will both be fighting at the front. Our three riders have real potential. Our teams will be providing the best total support for them next season.”