Ai Ogura completed the Sepang MotoGP test with mixed feelings after showing progress on the new Aprilia RS-GP 2026 bike but falling short in his sprint simulation. The Trackhouse rider finished 12th overall at the test, nearly a second behind the fastest time and about 0.8 seconds slower than his Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi.
Ogura said he feels more comfortable with the 2026 machine compared with last year’s bike. He rode similar lap times on both the 2025 and 2026 models, but he believes the new bike gives him a better overall feel. Despite this, he was hoping for a stronger long-run pace in the sprint simulation and felt he could not make the “extra push” he wanted.
Source: Motorcycle Sports
When asked where he was losing time to Bezzecchi, Ogura pointed to the high-speed sections of the track. He believes Bezzecchi is able to carry more speed through those parts of the circuit, which makes the difference over a race distance.
Ogura also battled a cold on the final day of testing, which may have affected his performance. Despite the disappointing sprint result, he and the team now turn their focus to the final pre-season test at Buriram in Thailand on February 21 and 22. That venue holds positive memories for Ogura, who scored his best premier-class results there last year with a fourth in the sprint and fifth in the main race.
The upcoming test will be an important opportunity for Ogura and his team to work on their pace and race simulation ahead of the start of the 2026 MotoGP season.
