MotoGP has landed in Spain for this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix — but missing from the grid is Japanese rookie Ai Ogura of the Trackhouse Racing Team.
Ai Ogura has withdrawn from the eighth round of the MotoGP calendar: the #79 rider, still recovering from the injury sustained during FP1 at Silverstone, will miss yet another key event. The hope is to see him back on track at Mugello, from June 20 to 22.
The news came today via an official press release from the Team, which stated that although the rider is recovering well, his participation in the Aragon GP would be too risky.
The official statement
These were the team’s words:“Barcelona – Thursday, June 5: Ai Ogura (#79) underwent a new medical evaluation this afternoon with Dr. Juan Monllau, the surgeon who performed the arthroscopic surgery to repair the fracture in the upper part of his right tibia. Although his recovery is progressing well, the medical opinion is that Ai has not yet healed enough to safely compete in the Aragon Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend.
For this reason, the Trackhouse MotoGP Team, respecting the medical advice, has decided not to field Ai Ogura at Motorland. Instead, the rider will continue his rehabilitation process, aiming for a return to the track at Mugello, for the Italian Grand Prix in two weeks.
The entire Trackhouse team is saddened that Ai won’t be able to race, but fully supports the need for him to be in peak physical condition before getting back on his Aprilia RS-GP25 number 79. The team will continue to do everything possible to support him during his recovery and looks forward to seeing him back in action soon. “
Photo: Ai Ogura