ROAD NEWS
A NEW KID ON TOP
Ai Ogura just showed the world why giving him a crack at the top echelon was not only well deserved, it was brilliant. The Japanese ace scored his maiden FIM MotoGP win at Assen, The Netherlands. It was the first time a Japanese rider had won since Makoto Tamada some 22 years earlier. Making it even more stunning for his SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP team, Raul Fernandez came home in second, handing the team the dream 1-2 result that saw them erupt as their young riders rewrote history. MotoGP has plenty of drama unfolding after a round that had many scratching their heads. Pedro Acosta had an issue but it turned out not to be with his KTM but with his wrist. He has since undergone surgery and hopefully that issue is done and dusted as everyone missed the talent and focus he brings. It was a weekend to forget
for Marco Bezzecchi who had a huge off at speed at the fast Turn 15( Ramshoek). Luckily he wasn’ t injured but it was a biggie. All through the weekend, drama lurked. Ogura accidentally deployed his ride height device mid race and lost time sorting it but then charged back into the fray and won, Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio tried to exchange graphics multiple times. With the yellow highlights, it was almost like watching Digi’ s boss, Valentino Rossi and MM93‘ playing rough in the sandpit’. At day’ s end, Ogura took the spoils, Jorge Martin( 193 points) takes over Bez’ lead( now in second with 186) in the overall standings, Fabio Di Giannantonio is now third( 177) and Ai Ogura, the man of the match, is fourth( 168). Marc Marquez is still there on 153 points in fifth place and well, Marc is Marc, so nobody is writing that man off anytime soon.
16 KIWI RIDER