Ai Ogura returns to Motegi for the Japanese Grand Prix after turning his comeback into two fourth-place finishes at the Red Bull Ring. It will be his final appearance at the circuit before he joins Yamaha’s factory team in 2027, giving the Trackhouse Aprilia rider a significant home round as he rebuilds momentum.

Ogura withdrew from last year’s home Grand Prix after the Sprint and has had another difficult recovery period ahead of this visit. His latest injury came in a training accident and involved a fracture close to his left thumb, requiring surgery. He missed the Aragon and Misano rounds, then returned in Austria with fourth place in both races.

A strong Motegi record

The Japanese rider is sixth in the world championship. Before the training accident, he had collected six podiums from eight races, underlining the form he had built before the interruption. His previous Motegi record adds another reason for optimism: in his last three home Grands Prix as a Moto2 rider, Ogura reached the podium every time. He won in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2023 and 2024.

Ogura does not see familiarity with the Asian circuits as an automatic advantage, since every MotoGP rider now has substantial experience at those venues. He does believe the weather can help him. The most extreme heat is expected at Mandalika and Sepang rather than Motegi or Phillip Island, but hot conditions remain a factor he hopes to turn to his benefit.

Fernandez looking for a change of direction

Davide Brivio has underlined the importance of the Japanese round for Trackhouse because it is Ogura’s home race. The team is also seeking a response from Raul Fernandez, who sits seventh in the championship, 19 points behind his team-mate. Fernandez has not made the podium since winning the Silverstone Grand Prix.

Fernandez likes Motegi and finds its grip level higher than Misano’s. He highlights turns 6, 7, 8 and 10 as the more flowing parts of the lap, while identifying turn 11 as the hardest corner. The braking demand is high there, and the exit must be set up carefully for the long straight that follows. Brivio hopes the Asian tour can help Fernandez reverse his recent difficult run.