Ogura was pleased to be back at Spielberg: “It’s quite straightforward here”
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse) finished the MotoGP race at the Red Bull Ring in fourth place. His hand injury didn’t cause him any problems. That’s why the layout at Spielberg helped him on his comeback.
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Starting from fifth on the grid, Ai Ogura got off to a good start in Sunday’s MotoGP race. He and his Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi managed to catch Pedro Acosta (KTM) and Marc Marquez (Ducati) off guard. However, Acosta reclaimed third place as early as lap 2 – leaving Ogura in fourth. On lap 9, the Japanese rider also had to let MM93 past again. But one lap later, the world champion braked too hard in Turn 1, allowing Ogura to slip through once more.
After that, the top four – Acosta, Martin, Bezzecchi and Ogura – pulled away from the rest of the field. After 28 laps, Ogura crossed the finish line a good two seconds behind Acosta and with a comfortable five-second lead over Marc Marquez. A good race? “Yes,” was the 25-year-old’s terse reply.
In the final laps, Ogura almost caught Aprilia factory rider Bezzecchi. Why was he so quick at the Red Bull Ring? “The most important thing this weekend was that I had no problems following my hand injury and a few weeks off the MotoGP bike,” said a relieved Ogura. “It still felt a bit strange on Friday morning, but straight after that it felt normal again – just as it had been before. I had some good sessions and a good weekend.”
Ai Ogura: “This track isn’t that complicated”
When you haven’t been on a MotoGP bike for a few weeks, it usually takes a while to get used to the speed again. “Fortunately, I made my comeback on this track, as it isn’t that complicated. Braking, turning in and accelerating – it’s pretty straightforward here. That helped me a lot,” explained Ogura.
In two weeks’ time, the action continues with the Japanese Grand Prix. That’s where Ai Ogura will be competing in his home GP. The omens are good for the Trackhouse rider – Motegi is similar in character to Spielberg. Is victory possible? “No, no,” Ogura said, waving the idea away with a smile. “I don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I want to stay calm and do my job.”
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