Eager for His American Debut
Ai Ogura expressed his excitement about racing on American soil as a Trackhouse rider, stating he is determined to give his all at this weekend’s home GP. In Thailand, he finished in the top five in both the sprint and the main race, while Argentina, where he had no prior testing, became a valuable opportunity to gain experience under race conditions. Reflecting on both weekends, Ogura felt he made positive strides as a MotoGP rider. He acknowledged the physical demands of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), which he considers one of the toughest circuits on the calendar, but also noted his riding style has significantly evolved since his first test, along with his connection to the bike. Regarding the disqualification in Argentina, Ogura admitted disappointment in the result, but emphasized that it had no impact on his performance and remains fully committed to pushing forward.
Ai Ogura:
“It’s truly amazing to be able to race in America as a Trackhouse rider. Thailand was a good weekend—finishing in the top five in both the sprint and the main race was a great result. Personally, the Thai track was easier to approach compared to Argentina. On the other hand, Argentina turned into more of a real racing experience for me since there was no pre-event testing.”
“I think both weekends allowed me to progress well as a MotoGP rider. The performance wasn’t bad, but this weekend is the team’s home GP, so I’ll be going all out. I’ve always wanted to ride this circuit in MotoGP, so I’m really happy.”
“This track is probably one of the most physically demanding circuits for riders. In Thailand and Argentina, I didn’t really feel that it was too tough physically, so I’m curious to see how it will be here.”
“Since the first test, my riding style has changed a lot. In the first two days, it felt like I was wrestling with the bike. Now, I think I’m riding with a much better sense of unity with the machine.”
“As for the disqualification in Argentina, it doesn’t affect my performance as a rider. It’s just unfortunate that the weekend ended like that. Overall, I think it was a good weekend in terms of content, and it won’t impact my riding going forward. I’ll just keep giving it everything I’ve got.”
(Photo courtesy of Michelin)