Ai Ogura misses Misano too: what the absence costs in the title fight

• Second race missed in a row, caused by a fracture in his left thumb
• 203 points and fifth in the standings, 53 behind leader Jorge Martin
• Trackhouse lines up in Misano with Raul Fernandez only, no stand-in rider

On Wednesday evening the Trackhouse team announced that Ai Ogura cannot take part in the Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera di Rimini. For the 25-year-old Japanese it is, after the Aragon weekend, already the second race weekend in a row he has to watch from the outside. The timing could hardly be worse: as recently as July Ogura led the chasing pack, now he keeps slipping further down the table. The Misano round is the 15th of 22 races in the 2026 season.

Why can Ai Ogura not start in Misano?

The operated left thumb has not healed far enough to cope with the loads of a MotoGP weekend. A medical examination on Tuesday evening in Barcelona did not bring the hoped-for result.

An X-ray check at the Dexeus clinic had been scheduled. There the team of surgeon Dr Xavier Mir was to decide together with Ogura and Trackhouse whether a trip to Misano made any sense at all. The outcome was negative. The team’s statement says he is „not, yet, sufficiently healed to ride“.

That settled the matter before the second medical hurdle. Even had he travelled to Misano, MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte would have had to give final clearance at the circuit on Thursday. It never came to that. Ogura is staying in Barcelona instead, where he is being treated, and is focusing on rehabilitation.

How did Ai Ogura get injured?

Ogura suffered the fracture during private motocross training in Japan, shortly after the race weekend at Silverstone. The first metacarpal of his left thumb is affected.

The Japanese is based back in his home country this season after several years in Spain. He travelled there after the Silverstone race and crashed during training near Tokyo. The hand was only examined after his return to Europe. That revealed surgery was necessary, even though Ogura had initially hoped to avoid it. The operation took place on 27 August in Barcelona, immediately before the Aragon weekend.

Team principal Davide Brivio explained at the circuit in Aragon at the time that the rider had broken the first metacarpal of his left thumb. The team’s goal was clear at that point: „our desire is to have him back for Misano“. That plan has now fallen through.

Where does Ai Ogura stand in the championship now?

Going into the Misano weekend Ogura sits fifth on 203 points. He is 53 points behind leader Jorge Martin.

At the top is Aprilia factory rider Martin on 256 points. Behind him come Marc Marquez on 237, Marco Bezzecchi on 232 and Fabio Di Giannantonio on 208. Directly behind Ogura are Pedro Acosta on 189 and his own team-mate Raul Fernandez on 186.

The decisive point is the maths for the weekend: Misano features a sprint and a Grand Prix, so a maximum of 37 points. All his rivals have that chance, Ogura does not. Mathematically the title fight is not over for him, but in practice the task grows with every race missed. With the current density at the front, his own pace after returning will hardly be enough. Ogura also depends on the four riders ahead of him dropping points.

Why is Trackhouse running only one rider?

Lorenzo Savadori is not available this weekend. That is why Trackhouse is sending only Raul Fernandez out in Misano.

In Aragon it was handled differently. There the Aprilia test rider stepped in for Ogura at extremely short notice, according to the team. For Misano that option does not exist, and the team has not nominated another stand-in. According to Trackhouse there was no other choice than to contest the weekend with a single machine.

In sporting terms that is an unusual situation. The rules generally provide for a sidelined full-time rider to be replaced. According to media reports, however, comparable cases in the past suggest the team will face no penalty for it.

From championship runner-up to spectator

The course of the season shows how quickly the picture has turned. Ogura, the 2024 Moto2 world champion, had established himself among the world’s best in his second season in the premier class. Six podiums in seven races speak for themselves, and on top of that came his first win in the top class at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. It was also the first Japanese victory in the premier class since Makoto Tamada in 2004.

After the German GP at the Sachsenring, Ogura went into the summer break second in the standings on 194 points, a mere 14 behind Martin. At Silverstone he underlined his pace with second place in the sprint and nine points, but then crashed in the Grand Prix and dropped to third. The injury followed shortly afterwards. In Aragon he had to watch for the first time and slipped to fifth.

The Japanese rider’s future has long been settled regardless. At the end of the season Ogura leaves the US team and moves to the factory Yamaha squad. Enea Bastianini takes his place at Trackhouse.

When does Ai Ogura want to return?

The next target is the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring, held a week after Misano from 18 to 20 September. Ogura stays in Barcelona for treatment until then.

Brivio explained the decision to skip Misano with the medical advice. The team decided to follow the recommendation of the medical team and wait another week. On the comeback he said: „the target is to see if we can get him riding again in Austria“.

Whether the extra seven days will be enough is open. Even with clearance, a double task then awaits. After two completely missed race weekends Ogura first has to find his rhythm again, and that of all times in the decisive phase of the season.

Frequently asked questions