Ai Ogura is set to make his MotoGP return at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend after missing two races due to a thumb injury. The Trackhouse Racing rider has been given the green light by MotoGP medical staff, pending a final fitness check in Friday's opening practice at Spielberg. Ogura will resume his campaign aboard the Aprilia.
The Japanese rider broke his thumb in a training accident after the British Grand Prix last month. Surgery ahead of the Aragon round caused him to miss both that race and the subsequent San Marino Grand Prix. Now, after intensive rehabilitation in Barcelona, he is ready to return. "As long as I stay on the bike, for sure I will deal with the pain anyway on the bike, but there's no chance that I make it worse," Ogura told media in Austria on Thursday. "There is some risk [if] I crash, but a lot less than a week ago."
However, his return is not without controversy. Ogura revealed that he was misled by a doctor in Japan immediately after the training accident, who advised against immediate surgery. That advice delayed the operation and cost him a chance to race at Misano. "That's what [the] Japanese doctor told me. I have nothing against them, but I shouldn't listen to that kind of comment," he said. When asked if immediate surgery might have allowed him to compete in the races he missed, Ogura replied, "Misano, probably."
Ogura's absence has taken a toll on his championship standing. Before the injury, he left Silverstone third in the standings, 37 points behind leader Jorge Martin. Now, he comes into Austria sixth, 71 points off the lead. Not only has the deficit almost doubled, but Marc Marquez now shares the lead with Martin. The reigning champion appears to be building real momentum as the season heads into its final third, making hunting him down a daunting prospect for a distant chaser.
Trackhouse will be thrilled to have Ogura back following two underwhelming weekends on which his team-mate Raul Fernandez failed to hit the highs of Silverstone, where he won the grand prix. Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori replaced Ogura at Aragon, while the squad fielded only Fernandez for the San Marino race at Misano. Ogura's return is expected to boost the team's performance.
Nevertheless, Ogura acknowledges that chasing the title will be extremely difficult. With his thumb not fully healed, he must focus on each race. "I will try my best, but we have to be realistic," he said. The Austrian Grand Prix will be a tough test for Ogura and Trackhouse, but his fighting spirit is admirable.
Baca Juga
Pedro Acosta mendapat dukungan Pol Espargaro untuk menang MotoGP Austria di Red Bull Ring. Peluang terbaik sebelum hengkang ke Ducati 2027.
Ai Ogura kembali ke MotoGP Austria setelah cedera jempol, tetapi defisit poin melebar menjadi 71 poin dari Jorge Martin di klasemen.
Ai Ogura dapat izin tampil di MotoGP Austria 2026 setelah cedera ibu jari. Ia siap menahan sakit dan akan dievaluasi usai FP1.
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