Japanese rider Ai Ogura, representing the Trackhouse MotoGP Team, is gearing up to face the demanding Le Mans circuit during the upcoming French Grand Prix. Although he openly admits that this track has been a challenging venue in the past, Ogura is determined to adapt quickly while piloting his Aprilia RS-GP25. With the premier class rookie status and a recent 2024 Moto2 championship under his belt, Ogura approaches Le Mans with both humility and ambition.
Reflecting on his history at Le Mans, Ogura stated,
Le Mans is, honestly, not my favorite circuit – it was always quite difficult for me there.
Despite this, he recalls a promising result from last year’s race, where he secured second place at this same track during his victorious campaign, a moment fueling his optimism today.
Ogura highlighted the significance of mastering every sector for success, saying,
I think if I can understand each sector well, that is very important for the lap time and I believe I can be quite competitive.
This analytical and methodical approach has become a hallmark of his riding style, contributing to his steady performance and pace throughout the current season on the Trackhouse Aprilia.
The Bugatti Circuit’s demanding braking zones may play to Ogura’s advantage, benefiting from data gathered during recent tests at Jerez.
There are some hard braking areas and from the Jerez test we got some new information that can help us,
he explained, illustrating his focus on technical improvements to enhance his lap times.
For Ai Ogura, the priority is progress rather than immediate results. He concluded,
I don’t mind where we end up there. It’s more important to keep working in the right direction and see what is going to work there.
His determined mindset and focus on continual growth position him as a rider to watch at Le Mans and beyond.
