Habit at the top
Second-first-second: this has been Ai Ogura’s track record in the last three GPs. A title pace and indeed at the halfway point of the World Championship, after 11 Grand Prix races, the Japanese Trackhouse rider is incredibly second in the standings, just 14 points behind the first position held by Jorge Martin. No one would have bet on this at the start of the year, but now beware of betting against this rider, as unique in his style as he is effective.
Read more Marquez: “The standings? I don’t even know why I’m there, 5 races ago I was at -100 points”
In an interview with Sky Sport MotoGP, Ogura also explained that he exceeded his expectations in a weekend where, already from Thursday’s press conference, he had set a top-6 finish as a satisfactory result: “Our goal was to finish in the top six and instead we achieved a much better result – acknowledged #79 – it was a great race so I am happy“.
2nd, my way
Analyzing the race, the Trackhouse rider explained that he learned the lesson from Saturday’s Sprint, which ended in fourth place: “Yesterday in the Sprint at the start I was quite strong in the last two corners, but I was using the grip on the edge of the tire more than others and so I struggled. Today I had to manage that area, but I managed it well. In the second part of the race I found that the grip on the edge of my tire was much better than others. It was tough, but I managed it my way and today it worked“.
Read more Marquez: “Who has a better chance of winning the World Cup between me and Spain? Spain”
Analyzing the standings situation then, Ogura is almost disarming in his simplicity: “Yes, I am second in the championship, right? Yes. Well, it’s a nice position – he replied, again to Sky’s microphones – it’s good to be second, right? It’s good like this. Let’s try to keep working my way, trying to get better positions every race“.
Read more Webber shields Piastri: “Oscar has a contract with McLaren. The farewell rumors are unfounded”
