Ai Ogura, the Japanese rider, will return to compete in the MotoGP championship during the Austrian Grand Prix, which will take place this weekend in Spielberg. Despite this, Ogura has expressed that this comeback has been delayed due to inappropriate medical advice he received in his home country.
The young rider injured his thumb during a training accident after the British Grand Prix last month, requiring surgery that caused him to miss the races in Aragón and San Marino. Now, after intense rehabilitation in Barcelona, he has received the green light from MotoGP doctors to return to competition with the Trackhouse Aprilia team.
Nevertheless, Ogura faces a considerable challenge in regaining his status as a championship contender. Before his injury, he occupied the third position in the standings, with 37 points behind the leader, Jorge Martin. Now, after missing two races, he finds himself 71 points from first place and has dropped to sixth in the points table.
Competition has intensified, with Marc Marquez and Martin sharing the lead, making Ogura’s task even more complicated. This weekend, he hopes to manage the discomfort in his thumb and compete safely, trusting that the risks are lower compared to those he would have faced if he had returned to San Marino.
Moreover, Ogura revealed that incorrect advice from a Japanese doctor delayed his surgery, costing him an opportunity to participate in Misano. ‘I have nothing against the doctors in my country, but they should have informed better,’ said the rider.
With his teammate, Raul Fernandez, having been unable to maintain the necessary level during the last two races, the Trackhouse team hopes Ogura can bring the competitiveness they need. His return will be key for the team in the final stretch of the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
