MotoGP Brno J3, Ai Ogura (Aprilia/2) gave it his all: "I couldn't have done better"

It was a very close call. In Brno, Ai Ogura almost won against Marc MarquezBut he would have needed a few more laps to trouble the nine-time world champion. In Marco Bezzecchi's absence and given Jorge Martin's penalty, Ai Ogura proudly represented Aprilia and simply prevented yet another Ducati 1-2-3 finish in Grand Prix racing. The Japanese rider can be proud of himself, even if, obviously, he wanted more, as his body language betrayed after crossing the finish line.

Ai Ogura didn't disgrace himself, far from it. Settled in third position behind Bagnaia and Marquez, he used his late surge to close the gap to the leaders, first overtaking Bagnaia. He chased Marquez and was closing in, but he was simply too short to trouble the nine-time world champion. "I'm happy with the race." It's a real shame not to have had a better start like today, but overall, the weekend was very positive.We have a better understanding of this circuit. he declared to the microphones of Sky Sports.

 

 

Ogura insists that he could not have won, even with an extra lap. "This is my best result here, and we couldn't have done better. I'm satisfied; I need to improve the first part of the race." he added.

 

 

His case perfectly illustrates the importance of the early stages of races today. In modern MotoGP, getting forward too slowly can be disastrous, regardless of the speed at the end. If Ogura makes good progress on his start, then he will often be among the favorites for the win. « The second part went very well, but I felt like something was missing at the beginning.We need to understand what went wrong and improve on that. Now, I'm focused on Assen. he concluded.

Do you think Ai Ogura will win a Grand Prix this season? Tell us in the comments!

2026 Czech MotoGP Grand Prix result:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport