Bad news from the MotoGP paddock: Ai Ogura will miss this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix at Misano. The left thumb injury he sustained while training on a motocross bike in Japan has not healed sufficiently, forcing Trackhouse Aprilia to delay the Japanese rider's comeback plans.
Ogura had been impressive early in the season, climbing to second in the championship with six podiums in seven races, including a maiden victory at Assen. However, a crash at the British Grand Prix halted his momentum, and the thumb injury worsened the situation. Surgery in Spain and a weekend off were expected to be enough for a return at Misano, but medical advice said otherwise.
"Concerning Ai, we decided to follow the advice of the medical team which recommends to wait for one more week," said Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio. "So, the target is to see if we can get him riding again in Austria."
This decision is a blow to Ogura's title hopes. During his absence, he has slipped to fifth in the standings, 53 points behind factory Aprilia rider Jorge Martin. Before the injury, Ogura was one of the strongest contenders. Now he must watch his rivals pull away while he can only watch from the sidelines.
Trackhouse also cannot field a replacement rider. Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia's test rider who substituted for Ogura at Aragon, is not available this weekend. As a result, Raul Fernandez will be the team's sole representative at Misano. This adds pressure on Trackhouse as they fight for constructors' points.
With Ogura absent, the MotoGP championship battle becomes even more intriguing. Jorge Martin at the top must be wary of challenges from other riders, while Ogura needs to recover quickly to keep his title chances alive. The Red Bull Ring in Austria is the next target, but everything depends on the condition of Ogura's thumb. If it doesn't improve, he might have to miss more races.
For fans, Ogura's absence at Misano certainly reduces the excitement. However, this is a wise decision for his long-term health. We'll wait and see if Ogura can indeed return in Austria, or if he must be patient even longer.
Read Also
EM Motorsport has officially taken over Dorian Timing Systems, a race timing provider in Australia and New Zealand. Technology and customer support will continue with local partner Alitrax.
Ai Ogura ruled out of MotoGP Misano due to finger injury. Targets Austria return. Impact on championship explained.
Ai Ogura will miss MotoGP Misano due to a thumb injury. Two consecutive absences have severely dented his 2025 world championship hopes.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!