Ai Ogura returns to Motegi for the Japanese Grand Prix with a dual mission: to deliver a strong performance in front of his home crowd and to prove that the hand injury which forced him to miss Aragon and Misano is no longer a hindrance. The Trackhouse Aprilia rider is recovering from surgery on a fracture near his left thumb and made his comeback at the Red Bull Ring with two promising fourth-place finishes.
However, Ogura is not getting carried away. For him, this year's Motegi race carries a different meaning. He admits he is not yet fully comfortable with the MotoGP bike at the historic circuit. "My Qualifying ended in Q1 last year, sog On the Moto2 bike I was quite strong in Motegi but not on the MotoGP bike - yet," he said candidly. This statement reflects the ongoing challenge of adapting from Moto2 to MotoGP, especially at a track that demands a balance between hard braking and flowing corners.
Nevertheless, Ogura's Moto2 record at Motegi is impressive. He stood on the podium in his last three home grands prix, including a win in 2022 and runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024. Now, as a MotoGP rider, he is determined to replicate that success. "I'm happy to be in Japan of course, but on a bike - no matter where I am - I'm always giving my 100%," he emphasised.
One factor that could work in Ogura's favour is the heat. The Saitama-born rider admits he prefers racing in hot conditions. "All the MotoGP riders have enough experience, even on Asian GP circuits, so I don't think this can be an advantage for me. But there will be a lot of hot races, which is something I like - so, the hot conditions can be an advantage for me," he explained. Unfortunately, extreme heat is more likely at Mandalika and Sepang than at Motegi and Phillip Island.
On the other side of the garage, Trackhouse Aprilia is working to regain its best form. Team principal Davide Brivio is aware of the pressure on Ogura in front of his home fans. "Japan is an important race for the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team because it's the home race for Ai. We are happy to have had a chance to get him back before this race, in Austria, as a good preparation for this round. We know there will be a lot of attention on Ai and we'll try to give him the best support we can for this round," said Brivio.
Ogura's teammate, Raul Fernandez, also faces his own challenges. Since his victory at Silverstone, Fernandez has not returned to the podium. "The track is really nice. It's something similar to Misano but, in Misano, the grip level is quite low, the grip level here is a little bit higher, which makes me enjoy riding the bike more," said Fernandez. He named turns six, seven, eight, and ten as his favourite sections, though turn 11 is the most difficult due to the need to brake late and prepare the exit well.
Brivio added, "We are coming from a few difficult races with Raul but, usually, the Asian tour is something positive, so we hope to be able to reverse the trend with him." Fernandez is currently seventh in the championship, 19 points behind Ogura, who has slipped to sixth. Before his injury, Ogura had claimed six podiums in eight races, a clear sign of his potential in MotoGP.
With the season entering a crucial phase, Motegi will be a true test for Ogura. It's not just about the final result, but also how he handles the pressure, his physical condition, and public expectations. If he can deliver a strong performance, he could end the season with valuable momentum before joining the factory Yamaha team in 2027.
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