How impressive was Ai Ogura on his MotoGP debut in Thailand?

Marc Marquez might have gained the Thailand Grand Prix after a measured journey from pole, however Ai Ogura’s efficiency on the Trackhouse Aprilia was simply as spectacular.

On his first race look in MotoGP, the younger Japanese rider completed an unbelievable fifth, scoring the perfect outcome for a debutant since Marquez’s podium on the 2013 Qatar Grand Prix. Even Pedro Acosta, the highest-rated rider to step as much as the premier class in recent times, solely managed ninth in his maiden outing 12 months in the past.

What was notably spectacular about Ogura’s debut weekend is that it wasn’t one particular person outcome that put him within the limelight. As a substitute, it was a well-rounded efficiency from the 24-year-old, who shone in each session over three days at Buriram.

First, he put collectively an unbelievable lap in qualifying to position his Aprilia RS-GP fifth on the grid, simply 0.35s off pole. Then, within the dash race, he overtook Pramac’s Jack Miller firstly earlier than claiming an unbelievable fourth in his first ever race outing.

On Sunday, he once more acquired the bounce on Miller to run fourth early on, however didn’t have the tempo to maintain Franco Morbidelli’s Ducati behind and settled into fifth. Even then, his quickest lap – a 1m30.942s – was simply three tenths off Marquez’s finest time on the manufacturing facility Ducati.

Furthermore, his tempo didn’t drop under the 1m31s bracket till lap 21 of 26. For reference, Morbidelli started lapping in 1m32s from lap 22, and the Italian was driving final yr’s championship-winning GP24.

So, the importance of Ogura’s outcome was not misplaced on anybody. On his debut, he was the highest non-Ducati rider on the timesheets, and simply 7.45s behind race winner Marquez. Ogura’s personal stablemate Marco Bezzecchi completed 15s down in sixth, displaying simply how fast the Japanese was in opposition to riders on the identical bike. Actually, Bezzecchi needed to deal with the Honda of Johann Zarco within the closing levels, whereas Ogura by no means dropped too far behind the Ducati of Morbidelli.

Ogura was fairly right down to earth following his debut heroics, stating that he was shocked by his personal performances at Buriram. He defined that he discovered just a few tips by driving instantly behind Francesco Bagnaia within the dash race and utilized these classes within the grand prix on Sunday.

“It is a large, large shock,” he mentioned of his dash outcome. “I used to be attempting to only copy what he was doing. To journey behind Pecco for 13 laps is basically high quality to me. [I learned] to be clean. 

“These sorts of sizzling circumstances, it is a bonus [for me]. For different riders it’s extra powerful and I do not really feel it a lot so it is a good level.”

He added: “The toughest factor for me was to handle the tyre. However within the dash I discovered so much from Pecco. I simply did like Saturday in the primary race and my tempo was fairly okay ultimately.”

Whereas Ogura might say he was shocked by his efficiency, pre-season testing confirmed that he was already gelling effectively with the Aprilia. On the ultimate day of the operating, he unleashed his true one-lap tempo, setting the seventh-quickest time. His long-run tempo wasn’t shabby both.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Bezzecchi was nonetheless anticipated to be the barometer for Aprilia’s efficiency within the early a part of the season, after he carried out extremely effectively himself in testing, however Ogura managed to outdo his extra skilled stablemate in Thailand.

“I knew he could possibly be actually quick,” mentioned Bezzecchi of Ogura. “In fact it is an important outcome at present to make fourth within the dash. So I’m shocked solely by the outcome, however he’s an excellent rider so we knew that he could possibly be very quick.”

Following the primary race, Bezzecchi added: “We journey [in] fairly [a] related [way]. He’s actually exact, actually good. I knew he was actually quick and actually good, as each Japanese particular person is basically methodical. 

“He’s working rather well, so after all I noticed his information. I attempted to be higher than him and attempt to study from him. He does the identical with me but in addition Raul [Fernandez].”

Ogura’s outcome can also be an enormous confidence booster for Aprilia. On a observe that hasn’t traditionally suited the RS-GP, Ogura proved that the Noale-based model had a powerful probability of turning into the second-best producer in MotoGP this yr.

It additionally implies that when reigning champion Jorge Martin returns to racing after his injury woes in pre-season, he can have a speedy bike beneath him.

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Staff

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Maybe the one rider inside Aprilia who can be alarmed by Ogura’s tempo is his Trackhouse team-mate Fernandez, who wouldn’t like being crushed by a rookie when he himself is in his third season within the premier class.

The outcome will definitely give the Spaniard the push he must take his performances up a notch and repay the religion instilled by his bosses, who handed him a brand new two-year contract in the midst of final season.

For now, although, each Aprilia and Trackhouse have gotten a winner on their arms. And Ogura may also relaxation safely within the information that he made the appropriate determination to forego a much less aggressive seat at LCR Honda within the hope of higher prospects elsewhere.

Ogura will need to have had loads of confidence in his skills to distance himself from a producer that he knew so effectively – one that might have readily handed him a MotoGP berth attributable to his nationality.

However as a substitute, he selected to show his abilities on observe and win the Moto2 title with MT Helmets – MSI. And now he has proven that he effectively and really belongs in MotoGP.

Pictures from Thailand GP – Race