Missed Misano Demi‑Weekend
Ai Ogura will bow out of the forthcoming Misano MotoGP round, marking the second consecutive event he has abandoned after a thumb operation in Barcelona.
The Japanese rider sidestepped last month’s Aragon meeting following a motocross‑style crash that damaged his left thumb. He underwent surgery on 27 August, where Dr. Xavier Mir’s team approved an extended recovery window.
Trackhouse Aprilia’s chief engineer, Davide Brivio, explained that the Misano layout demands sharp left‑hand turns that could aggravate Ogura’s injury, posing unnecessary risk for him and his rivals. The team therefore decided to skip the weekend.
Aiming for a Resilient Return in Austria
Brivio projected Ogura back on the Austrian grid, noting that red‑flag corners dominate the venue, requiring mainly right‑hand braking sessions that reduce load on the thumb.
When Ogura returns, he will trade a 53‑point deficit from the title against Marco Marquez’ leader, Jean‑Baptiste Lemaire. The gap widens to 53 points, narrowing his prospects for podium finishes.
Shift in Motorsport Recovery Practices
Francesco Guidotti, who will take over Brivio in 2027, highlighted a growing trend: “The modern machine demands peak physical form; pushing a rider who is not fully fitted is too risky.”
Guidotti compared the situation to Jorge Lorenzo’s 2013 motorcycle recovery—an era when riders could return after a shorter hiatus. Today, race calendars, heavier bikes, and stricter medical protocols mandate longer rest periods.
In Misano, Lorenzo Savadori was on standby after replacing Ogura in Aragon. Tired from a Friday‑Saturday test run with a new 850 cc unit, he was not cleared to compete, leading Trackhouse to field only Raul Fernandez.
With the Austrian GP approaching, the team’s focus remains on full healing, demonstrating a more cautious, data‑driven approach to rider fitness than previous seasons allowed.
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