The Trackhouse Aprilia MotoGP team will bring back its famous Gulf livery for the Indonesian Grand Prix after fans selected the design in a vote. This decision marks a return to the iconic light blue and orange motif that the American team initially used in the first two rounds of the season.
At the beginning of the year, Trackhouse revealed plans to showcase different liveries during the campaign, starting with a minimalist design aligned with the company’s colors. The classic Gulf scheme was worn in Thailand and Argentina, where rookie rider Ai Ogura achieved a notable fifth-place finish in the season opener in Thailand.
Fan-Selected Design to Appear Again Later This Year
After the early races, Trackhouse reverted to its original livery from the American Grand Prix onwards but had promised to bring the Gulf colors back. The fresh design, named Passion, was chosen by fans from multiple options and will be displayed again at the Malaysian Grand Prix at the end of October. For this weekend’s Indonesian Grand Prix, the Gulf livery will be featured on only one Trackhouse Aprilia bike, ridden by Raul Fernandez, as Ai Ogura will be absent.
Rider Absences Affect Team Line-up at Mandalika Event
Ai Ogura has withdrawn from the Indonesian race due to continued pain from a hand injury sustained in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix. Despite participating in last weekend’s sprint race at the Japanese Grand Prix, Ogura pulled out of the main race. Meanwhile, Aprilia is operating at partial strength as factory rider Jorge Martin is also sidelined after sustaining a displaced shoulder fracture in Japan.
Martin underwent surgery in Spain on Tuesday, which was reported as successful despite its complexity, according to MotoGP medical chief Dr. Angel Charte. He explained that the operation was intricate because of bone fragments that needed to be secured.
“Complicated due to the fragments of bone that needed to be pinned back in place.” – Dr. Angel Charte, MotoGP medical chief
No timeline has been provided for Martin’s recovery from this injury, his fourth major one of the year. He has missed much of the current season due to crashes during pre-season and early rounds of the championship.
Implications for Trackhouse and MotoGP Season
The return of the Gulf livery, especially voted on by fans, reflects Trackhouse’s connection with its supporters and marketing efforts during the MotoGP season. While the absence of key riders Ai Ogura and Jorge Martin leaves the team undermanned for this event, Raul Fernandez will represent them with the nostalgic and fan-favorite design. The team’s flexibility in liveries and commitment to fan engagement may influence future branding during the upcoming rounds.
Upcoming events like the Malaysian Grand Prix will provide another opportunity to showcase the Gulf colors, possibly boosting visibility for Team Trackhouse and their sponsors. Meanwhile, fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see how quickly Jorge Martin can regain fitness and return to competition after his recent surgery.
