English
Italiano
His first day in the MotoGP and Ai Ogura ended it in a 21st position. After only a trivial slip up - when just over two hours had passed since the start of the test session at Montmelo - the Moto2 world champion fully promoted his first approach to the category without detecting any major criticalities in handling the Trackhouse Racing team's Aprilia.
"I never had any problems all day, and I got on well with the whole team right away. The only hiccup was the fall, so it was a good start. What impressed me about the bike? Probably the acceleration that's smooth and gradual. I think that was the most complex thing for me. The delivery is very different than the Moto2. The speed, on the other hand, didn't surprise me that much. After two or three laps, I already had the pace. The carbon brakes? Again, I didn't notice any particular differences comparing them with steel ones, and even the massive presence of aerodynamics didn't give me any particular sensation," the Japanese rider said impassively.
If he was racing with youngsters as hungry as he was for affirmation until Sunday, Ogura he ended up measuring himself against the big boys on Tuesday. "Being on the track with so many important riders creates a bit of anxiety, as does media attention, but I'd say it's all manageable," he affirmed with a zen-like attitude.
Instead, he was very lucid and clear with regard to the aspects that need to be improved: "Braking or even corner entry, specifically that phase from when you touch the brakes to when you open the throttle again. I definitely need to understand that better."
The MotoGP bikes are powerful and physical. Consequently, they require more preparation. "In this session, I did eight-five, eighty-six laps, and I think the longest stint was about ten laps. Physically, it went well, but the question remains about the race distance. I'll certainly work harder in the winter than in past years," he promises.
