Halfway through the season, the results are mixed but promising at TrackHouse Aprilia. Team principal Davide Brivio gives a frank assessment: his two riders, Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez, have had opposite… but complementary… paths.
The Japanese rookie Ai Ogura had started with a bang, impressing from his first appearances in MotoGP. But a fracture of the tibia at Silverstone abruptly interrupted its rise to power.
« We had a very good start with Ai, he showed great potential ", emphasizes Brivio. "His injury was a big blow »
For its part, Raul fernandez, after a slow start to the season and a foot injury at Sepang, has gradually regained confidence and speed. His fifth place at Brno before the summer break put him back in the top 10 and allowed TrackHouse to pass in front Honda LCR in the team rankings.
« Raul has improved enormously, he is now regularly in the top 10 ", rejoices Brivio. A renewal due in part to **in-depth psychological work, confirmed by the pilot himself.
Davide Brivio: “ If we combined Ogura's first half of the season with Raul's, we would have an excellent result. »
With ten race weekends remaining, or twenty rounds, the objective is now clear: to align the good performances of the two drivers over the same period.
« If we combined Ogura's first half of the season with Raul's, we would have an excellent result. The challenge now is to make them progress together. – and without injuries »
Brivio aims for a regular place in the top 10 for its two drivers in the second half of the season, a realistic objective in a championship ultra dominated by Ducati.
In one MotoGP where the hierarchy is frozen behind the Ducati, outsiders must watch for the rare flaws.
« Positions 4 to 6 are almost lockedTo exist, you have to take advantage of events like rain, or a perfect weekend like Bezzecchi's in Assen. »
TrackHouse knows that the path is narrow, but with Ogura ready to come back and Fernandez confident, the second half of the season could well be the confirmation for the American team.
