Japanese rider Ai Ogura faced a challenging first day at the 2026 Thai MotoGP, held at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. Although he experienced a crash during the afternoon practice session, Ogura managed to secure a spot in Q2, underscoring his determination and skill on a track where he previously achieved solid rookie results. The day’s events unfolded amid tricky weather that tested all riders’ strategies.
Morning Session Highlights and Early Challenges
During the morning’s FP1 session, Ogura posted a promising fourth fastest lap, only 0.104 seconds behind the Aprilia team leader. This performance raised expectations, given his notable finishes last year—fourth in the Sprint and fifth in the Grand Prix as a rookie. At the halfway point of the session, Ogura maintained fourth place, pushing hard as conditions began to shift with a darkening sky signaling potential rain.
Afternoon Weather Shifts and Crash at Turn 7
Just 14 minutes before the end of the afternoon session, light and scattered rain started to fall, complicating track conditions. After a pit stop to change to a fresh rear tire, Ogura and other riders returned to the track for a final time attack. Unfortunately, Ogura crashed at turn 7 during his out lap in his distinctive Gulf-colored Aprilia, unable to handle the accelerated pace under the damp track conditions. Despite the setback, he concluded the session in ninth place overall.
Team and Rider Perspectives on the Day’s Difficulties
Reflecting on the day, Ogura emphasized his primary objective: advancing into Q2.
“The main goal on Friday is to get into Q2. But honestly, I’m not really happy with the afternoon session. I think we could have handled the tricky situation better, with the light rain at the start. But that’s behind us now. Even without a real time attack, we stayed in the top 10 and went straight into Q2, which is positive. For qualifying, the goal will be to get the best possible grid position, but time attacks are always a bit tricky. Let’s see how I manage that,”
he stated.
Team Principal Davide Brivio also commented on the complex conditions and strategic challenges:
“This afternoon’s session was tricky. Rain was threatening and completely changed the strategy. We brought forward the time attack for Ai and Raul in anticipation of the rain, but unfortunately it wasn’t the right time in terms of track conditions. Ai wasn’t able to improve and Raul set a time that wasn’t fast enough. Fortunately, Ai set her best lap during a long run, which is very encouraging, and we entered Q2 with a time achieved in race simulation. Let’s see if the weather remains stable and if we can play our cards right.”
Implications for the Thai MotoGP and Ogura’s Prospects
Though Ogura crashed, his consistent pace and top-10 placement signal strong potential for the weekend, especially as his 2026 RS-GP bike showed competitiveness even without certain aerodynamic upgrades used by teammate Marco Bezzecchi. His ability to navigate through unpredictable weather and maintain a spot in Q2 could prove vital in his quest for a podium finish at the Thai Grand Prix. Stability in weather conditions and strategic execution during qualifying will be critical moving forward in the competition.
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