The Dutch MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday delivered a race full of surprises. Ai Ogura emerged victorious, marking the first time a Japanese rider has won a MotoGP Grand Prix in 22 years.
Raúl Fernández secured second place, with Jorge Martín finishing third at the TT Circuit Assen. In an unexpected turn of events, Aprilia’s satellite team, Trackhouse, outperformed the factory team. Both Ogura and Fernández finished ahead of Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi, the latter of whom crashed and was taken to the hospital.
Ogura, piloting for the Trackhouse team, made decisive overtakes, passing Martín on lap 18 and Fernández on lap 20, ultimately clinching a significant victory. This win propels him to fourth in the overall standings, ahead of Marc Márquez.
This achievement follows Ogura’s previous success in May, where the 25-year-old became the first Japanese rider to reach a podium in the premier class since Katsuyuki Nakasuga at the 2012 Valencia Grand Prix, securing third place at the French Grand Prix. With today’s win, Ogura is the first Japanese rider to win a top-class race since Makoto Tamada at the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix.
The race also saw a concerning incident when Marco Bezzecchi suffered a heavy crash on the second lap while attempting to overtake Marc Márquez, who ultimately finished seventh. Bezzecchi, the second Aprilia rider, was transported to Groningen Hospital for medical assessments and reported to have no serious injuries.
Following the race, Jorge Martín is the new MotoGP championship leader with 193 points. He holds a seven-point advantage over Marco Bezzecchi (186 points), with Fabio Di Giannantonio in third (177 points). Ogura sits in fourth with 168 points, while Marc Márquez drops to fifth (153 points), and Raúl Fernández is sixth with 138 points.
Ai Ogura Becomes First Japanese MotoGP Grand Prix Winner in 22 Years; Martín Takes Championship Lead
Sunday’s MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix was marked by a historic victory for Ai Ogura, who became the first Japanese rider to win a premier class race in two decades. Raúl Fernández and Jorge Martín completed the podium.
In a surprising twist, Aprilia’s satellite Trackhouse team outshone the factory outfit, with Ogura and Fernández finishing ahead of factory riders Martín and Marco Bezzecchi. Bezzecchi had a crash and was hospitalized.
Ogura made his move on lap 18, overtaking Martín, and then passed Fernández on lap 20 to secure his maiden win. This victory elevates him to fourth in the overall standings, surpassing Marc Márquez.
This is a significant milestone for Ogura, who previously achieved a podium finish at the French Grand Prix, becoming the first Japanese rider on the top step since Katsuyuki Nakasuga in 2012. His win today makes him the first Japanese rider to win a top-tier race since Makoto Tamada at the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix.
The race was marred by a serious crash involving Marco Bezzecchi on the second lap while he was battling with Marc Márquez, who finished seventh. Bezzecchi was taken to the hospital for evaluation but sustained no major injuries.
As a result of the race, Jorge Martín has taken the lead in the MotoGP championship with 193 points. He is followed by Marco Bezzecchi in second place (186 points) and Fabio Di Giannantonio in third (177 points). Ogura is now fourth with 168 points, while Marc Márquez has fallen to fifth (153 points) and Raúl Fernández is sixth (138 points).