How Ai Ogura is starting to fulfil his MotoGP pote...

Ai Ogura earned loads of display time through the opening leg of the 2026 MotoGP season. Whereas manufacturing facility riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin led the cost for Aprilia up to now, Ogura has additionally drawn reward for his performances with the satellite tv for pc Trackhouse workforce.

The Japanese rider first caught the attention when he rose from tenth to fifth within the last eight laps of the Thai GP, matching his greatest end in MotoGP. It was telling that Ogura was nonetheless not happy with the end result, admitting he left extra on the desk by being “shit” within the first half of the race.

The comment supplied invaluable insights into his mentality and underlined his rising starvation to enhance. After the Goiania weekend got here and went with a double top-five end, that ambition was once more evident at Austin, the place he was knocking on the door of a podium end till an engine challenge pressured him out of the race.

The end result could also be heartbreaking for Ogura, however the truth that he was contending for a top-three end result within the first place was a transparent signal of progress.

Throughout the opening three rounds, it’s truthful to say Ogura seemed stronger than his extra skilled team-mate Raul Fernandez. Whereas each have struggled to extract the perfect out of the RS-GP in qualifying, Ogura has largely been in a position to get well from decrease grid positions in races.

A rookie season that left a lot to be desired

A lot was anticipated from Ogura when he stepped as much as MotoGP final 12 months because the reigning Moto2 champion. A fourth and a fifth on his debut weekend solely raised hopes, however these outcomes proved to be the excessive level of an in any other case underwhelming rookie marketing campaign.

Nonetheless, the opening part of the 2026 season suggests he’s now starting to ship on that early promise.

Based on Trackhouse workforce principal Davide Brivio, Ogura’s improved type is the results of elevated maturity, together with his struggles in 2025 largely influenced by accidents somewhat than a scarcity of tempo.

Ogura broke his leg throughout a crash over the British GP weekend and wanted surgical procedure, whereas one other accident at Misano left him with a hand harm.

Davide Brivio, Trackhouse Racing

Photograph by: Gold and Goose Images / LAT Photos / through Getty Photos

“We’re happy, however it’s nothing we didn’t anticipate. That is what we have been engaged on,” he stated at Austin.

“What you name the curler coaster of final 12 months, that was very a lot influenced by the harm. We had two huge accidents. When he received the harm, it was just a little little bit of a step again, after which it takes time to get well and every part. Now hopefully every part’s going okay. 

“We all know he is quick, we all know he has expertise, and it is a matter of going by way of the primary 12 months of expertise, to make errors, to be taught, to know, and we now have seen him beginning within the season extra mature and extra conscious of what he can do. However not simply conscious, however having expertise. He is aware of what to anticipate.

“The rhythm of MotoGP is greater than Moto2. In Moto2, you may take it easier, however in MotoGP it’s a must to be prepared by Friday morning.

“So he has to undergo this course of, and this 12 months he has extra mentally ready to strategy what MotoGP requires. 

“However it is a unending job. Even if you happen to race 15 years…. I inform everyone, you at all times have one thing to be taught, and it is what he is doing.”

Regardless of the mechanical-induced retirement within the US GP, Ogura has already collected 37 factors, simply three fewer than his team-mate Fernandez and near half of what he scored (89) throughout in an injury-hit 2025 season.

Brivio thinks it is just a matter of time earlier than Ogura is ready to stand on the rostrum for the primary time in MotoGP.

“That is what we now have to do that 12 months, we now have to remain as shut as potential to the highest positions, and take the chance after they come,” he stated.

“Ultimately possibly you’re going to get a possibility. You simply should be prepared by that point.”

Ogura’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with Motorsport.com reporting final weekend that he will join the factory Yamaha team in 2027.

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– The Motorsport.com Staff