Ai Ogura has been cleared to return to MotoGP action at the Austrian Grand Prix after passing medical checks at the Red Bull Ring on Thursday. The Japanese rider, competing for Trackhouse Aprilia, had been sidelined for the Aragon and San Marino rounds after fracturing his left thumb in a training incident following the British Grand Prix.
Ogura was declared fit for Free Practice 1 following an initial medical assessment, and after further evaluation he received full clearance to continue through the rest of the weekend — including Practice, qualifying, the Sprint, and Sunday's race. The 24-year-old told reporters he expected to "have to endure some pain" but was confident the injury would not limit his performance significantly.
The timing is critical for Ogura's championship aspirations. He sits sixth in the standings on 203 points, having been second before the injury forced his absence. Two missed races opened the door for rivals to close the gap, and the Red Bull Ring represents an opportunity to reclaim momentum on a circuit where Aprilia's package has traditionally performed well.
