Drama unfolded on the Sepang tarmac as two Aprilia riders engaged in a tense on-track duel during the closing stages of the main Grand Prix. Ai Ogura openly shouldered the blame for a late-race overtaking maneuver that resulted in physical contact with teammate Marco Bezzecchi.
Earlier during the Sprint race, the Japanese rider had chosen not to aggressively counter his stablemate for third place, a decision that sparked outside commentary regarding team orders. However, the dynamic shifted significantly during Sunday's full-distance Grand Prix as both competitors fought fiercely for every available position.
Speaking to media outlets after the chequered flag, Ogura explained the exact sequence of events that led to the heart-stopping moment at Turn 1, admitting a miscalculation in his braking judgment.
"When we entered Turn 1, I think he knew I was trying to pass him. He braked rather abruptly and ran a bit wide. I thought I could get through, but I didn't expect him to aim for the apex, believing he would hold his line instead. It was a misunderstanding. The contact was my fault, and I will personally go see Marco to apologize," Ogura stated.
On the other side of the garage, Bezzecchi offered a remarkably calm and pragmatic response to the controversial overtaking attempt, acknowledging that his rival held a pace advantage in that specific phase of the race.
"Ai was faster than me at that moment, and I think he would have passed me anyway a couple of corners later, which he eventually did. The contact wasn't necessary simply because we both risked crashing, but in the end, everything turned out fine," Bezzecchi remarked.
The Italian rider added that racing incidents are an inherent part of the premier class environment and confirmed that there is zero lingering animosity between them ahead of the upcoming rounds.
"Our sport is one where these things can sometimes happen, so there is absolutely no hard feeling whatsoever. I don't need any kind of apology. If he does apologize, I will accept it because I have a great relationship with him and I really like him. But as I said before, there isn't really that much to apologize for in the end," he concluded.
Baca Juga
Yamaha resmi absen dari MotoGP Qatar akibat pembatasan perjalanan perusahaan. Simak analisis lengkap dan dampak regulasinya di sini.
Ai Ogura siap minta maaf usai senggolan dengan Marco Bezzecchi di Sepang. Baca analisis lengkap dinamika garasi Aprilia di sini.
Ketegangan melanda paddock jelang GP Qatar setelah Yamaha menolak turun, sementara Ducati dan pabrikan lain tetap membalap. Simak analisis lengkap di sini
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