Returning to Phillip Island after his right hand injury, Ai Ogura returned to the saddle of his Aprilia TrackHouse RS-GP with determination. The Japanese rider has not yet regained all his feeling, but he held on, taking a 13th placeè solid place in the race and his first points since Misano.
Wounded in the right hand at Misano, Ogura had tried to roll at Motegi before giving up, then missed Mandalika to recover. In Australia, he knew the weekend would be a physical as well as mental test.
« I wasn't sure my hand would hold up., but it was okay. I'm happy, everything is looking good for Malaysia " he explained after the arrival.
The Japanese rookie suffered, but he completed the 27 laps consistently, earning himself three valuable points and a real boost in confidence.
Le strong wind typical of Phillip Island did not spare the pilots, but Ogura was able to adapt:
« The wind was stronger, but it was warmer, and that helped me.. With the medium rear tire, the difference with the other riders was not so significant. " he analyzed lucidly.
Heading to Sepang: a physical test above all for Ai Ogura
Far from playing the wounded hero card, Ogura preferred to ride intelligently, focusing on consistency rather than raw performance.
At Aprilia TrackHouse, the dynamic is good: Marco Bezzecchi et Raul Fernandez have each just signed a historic victory — the first for Raul, the first for the team. And Ogura feeds on it rather than being discouraged:
« I am very happy for the team and for ApriliaFirst Bez, now Raul, so I'm next! " he said, smiling.
A sentence that is both humorous and revealing: Ogura maintains the good mentality of the rookie, between humility and ambition.
The calendar gives him no respite: the Malaysia arrives next weekend, and his hand is not yet fully healed. But the Japanese driver remains on course, determined to continue his momentum.
With this solid return and intact morale, Ogura confirms that he has his place in the project Aprilia — a project where teamwork, patience and trust seem to be paying off.
MotoGP, Australia J3: ranking
