Ai Ogura’s hopes of returning to MotoGP action at the San Marino Grand Prix will depend on the outcome of a crucial medical assessment this week.
The Trackhouse rider is scheduled to undergo a radiological check in Barcelona on Tuesday, September 8, as doctors assess the condition of his injured left thumb. The examination will determine whether Ogura is fit to travel to Misano for the next round of the championship.
Ogura fractured the first metacarpal of his left thumb in a motocross training crash while he was back in Japan during the summer break. The injury was only diagnosed after he returned to Europe, forcing him to undergo surgery in Barcelona on August 27 and miss the Aragon Grand Prix.
The operation was carried out by a medical team led by Dr Xavier Mir, who will now work with Ogura and Trackhouse to determine whether the Japanese rider is ready to resume racing.
Since the surgery, Ogura has been resting and undergoing rehabilitation in an effort to recover in time for Misano. Trackhouse has provisionally listed him for the San Marino round, but he must first receive medical clearance before making the trip.
Even if Ogura is cleared to travel, he will face another examination once he arrives at the circuit. MotoGP Medical Director Dr Angel Charte will assess him on Thursday before deciding whether he is fit to compete.
If Ogura is unable to race, Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori is expected to step in again after replacing him at Aragon.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Ogura, who had been enjoying an impressive second MotoGP season. He entered the summer break second in the championship after the German Grand Prix, with 194 points and only 14 points separating him from then-leader Jorge Martin.
However, his absence from Aragon has allowed several rivals to move ahead of him in the standings. Ogura is now fifth with 203 points, 53 behind Martin, while Marc Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio have all moved ahead of him.
Before his injury, Ogura had also made a strong start to the second half of the season at Silverstone. He finished second in the sprint race and collected nine points, but crashed out of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
That result, combined with his strong performances earlier in the season, had kept him firmly in the championship picture.
His return at Misano could therefore be particularly important. Missing another round would make his title challenge even more difficult, while a successful comeback would give him an opportunity to limit the damage and regain momentum.
For now, Ogura’s immediate priority is simply getting through Tuesday’s medical assessment. If doctors give him the green light, he will then have to pass MotoGP’s final examination at Misano before he can return to the Aprilia RC-GP and resume his championship campaign.
