Ai Ogura Set for MotoGP Return at Austrian Grand Prix After Injury

Japanese rider Ai Ogura is set to return to action for Trackhouse Aprilia at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg. He broke his thumb in a training accident following last month's British Grand Prix, and surgery ahead of the Aragon round forced him to miss both that race and the subsequent San Marino Grand Prix.

Following intensive rehabilitation treatment in Barcelona, MotoGP medical staff have cleared Ogura to resume his campaign, pending a final fitness check during Friday's opening practice session in Austria. Ogura revealed that incorrect initial advice from a doctor in Japan delayed his surgery and cost him the chance to compete at Misano last weekend. While he expects to deal with pain on the bike, he noted that his thumb has recovered sufficiently and the risk of further damage is now much lower than it was a week ago.

Missing two consecutive races has significantly damaged Ogura's championship hopes. After leaving Britain in third place and 37 points behind leader Jorge Martin, his absence in Aragon and San Marino has dropped him to sixth in the standings, 71 points behind Martin and Marc Marquez, who now share the lead. Ogura's return brings Trackhouse back to a full entry, after Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori substituted for him at Aragon and Raul Fernandez raced as the team's sole entry in San Marino.