Ogura returns from injury to finish nine tenths from the podium

Ai Ogura finished his comeback Grand Prix in fourth place, only nine tenths behind Marco Bezzecchi. The Trackhouse rider was returning after hand surgery and two missed Grands Prix, having initially received medical clearance limited to Friday’s opening session before being cleared for the rest of the weekend.

The Japanese rider had already surprised by taking third in Practice and then fifth on the grid. His fourth place on Sunday shows that the speed was not limited to one qualifying lap: he completed the full distance and put a third Aprilia inside the top four.

The timing is ideal ahead of Motegi, his home Grand Prix. His recovery will still need monitoring after a complete weekend, but Ogura leaves Austria with a front-running result rather than simply a weekend of getting back up to speed.