After missing both the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix at the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom, Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) has undergone a small surgery to help recover from his fast Turn 2 crash on Friday at Silverstone.
Ogura travelled back to Barcelona with a potential fracture to the top of his right tibia. Davide Brivio, Trackhouse Team Manager, stated that it was too early to determine whether he’d be at Aragon when speaking during the British GP weekend.
Following the surgery, Trackhouse released a statement on Ai’s condition and the prognosis regarding a potential return:
"Ai Ogura underwent a successful keyhole surgery procedure to repair a fracture to the top of his right tibia, just below the knee. An MRI scan, carried out on Monday, revealed that a small bone fragment was also displaced and this was removed during the 30-minute surgery. Post-operative evaluation revealed a successful outcome and now Ai has commenced rehabilitation.
"Based on the outcome of the surgery and medical report from Tuesday, the team are hopeful that Ai will be fit to ride at the Grand Prix of Aragon, in just over one week, but his progress will be monitored and the team is offering all assistance ahead of a further fitness evaluation closer to the start of the weekend in Aragon."
Ai Ogura: "The surgery is done. I think everything went quite well and I feel pretty OK with my knee. I just need a bit of time to get back to 100% fitness. It’s quite difficult and we will see if I can make it to Aragon. I’m trying to do what I can to recover my leg but, in situations like these, you can’t do too much. I will just do what I can and prepare for the next race.”
It’s been a fine rookie season for the reigning Moto2 World Champion, who was pushing for a debut podium in Thailand before three more top ten finishes on Sundays have highlighted the Japanese star’s progression. He is second in the rookie standings, with Le Mans podium finisher Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) ahead of him by 13 points.