Ogura Cleared for FP1 Return at the Red Bull Ring

MotoGP rider Ai Ogura has been cleared to compete in Free Practice 1 at the Austrian Grand Prix, marking his return to action after missing the Aragon and San Marino rounds due to a fractured left thumb. The incident occurred during a motocross training crash, which Ogura attributed to bad luck. The Japanese rider will return to his RS-GP26 on Friday morning, followed by a further medical review to assess his readiness for the rest of the weekend.

Ogura's injury has derailed his title aspirations, as he now trails joint standings leaders Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin by 71 points. The setback has also cost his team, Aprilia, the manufacturers' lead, which is now held by Ducati by just two points.

Ogura initially postponed surgery as advised by his Japanese doctors, a decision he now regrets. He believes he could have potentially returned at Misano, a track he considered more suitable for his recovery due to its layout. Despite his left hand remaining slightly weaker than his right, Ogura underwent a successful bike test on a smaller machine last Monday.

His primary concern moving forward is the rear ride-height device, which he controls with his left thumb. However, he remains determined to manage the discomfort without compromising his performance, stating that he will not allow the injury to worsen.