Trackhouse Aprilia rider Ai Ogura will miss his second consecutive race weekend at the San Marino Grand Prix following medical checks on a fractured left thumb.
Championship Hopes Fade Fast
The Japanese competitor sustained the injury during a motocross training accident last month. Following surgery in Barcelona, doctors advised him to abandon his Misano comeback. Trackhouse will field Raul Fernandez alone, with test rider Lorenzo Savadori unavailable due to conflicting 850cc development testing.
Running a single-bike operation severely limits crucial data collection around a circuit where Ducati have already shown immense speed during Friday’s opening practice sessions. Ogura’s ongoing absence effectively extinguishes his title ambitions, leaving him 53 points adrift in fifth, while highlighting how tactical rider selections define modern racing.
Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio confirmed the delay. Speaking to Crash.net, he said: “Concerning Ai, we decided to follow the advice of the medical team which recommends to wait for one more week,” adding, “So, the target is to see if we can get him riding again in Austria.”
Modern Demands Require Peak Fitness
With Trackhouse confirming they had “no option” but to run one machine according to The Race, paddock figures note a cultural shift against rushed medical returns.
Incoming team manager Francesco Guidotti told Motorsport.com: “It’s less about attitude and more about the demands of the job,” explaining the paradigm shift. He added: “Today the bikes are so powerful and physically demanding that it’s genuinely dangerous, both for the rider himself and for the other riders, if you’re not fit.”
Trackhouse now look toward the Austrian Grand Prix for Ogura’s anticipated return.
