At the Assen circuit, the Noale-based satellite squad secured a sensational one-two finish, with Ai Ogura claiming his maiden MotoGP victory ahead of teammate Raul Fernandez. Completing a dream day for the Italian manufacturer was Jorge Martin, who crossed the line in third, giving Aprilia a clean sweep of the podium.
For Ogura, it was his first MotoGP win, achieved after a mature and composed performance in which he held off Fernandez, who capped another outstanding weekend after already winning Saturday’s Sprint race. It was a one-two finish that few could have predicted before the weekend and one that left Team Principal Davide Brivio both delighted and pleasantly surprised by his riders’ performances.
Just behind the podium, Fabio Di Giannantonio finished fourth as the best Ducati rider, ahead of a determined Alex Marquez and Enea Bastianini on the KTM. Marc Marquez crossed the line in seventh, followed by Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha. Brad Binder and Alex Rins completed the top ten.
It was a weekend to forget for Francesco Bagnaia. Just hours after becoming a father for the first time, the Italian champion was forced to retire from the race due to a suspected brake issue. It was a disappointing end to what should have been one of the happiest days of his personal life.
There was also concern for Marco Bezzecchi, who suffered a heavy crash during the race. Initial medical checks ruled out any fractures, but the Italian was taken to hospital for further examinations.
Attention is also focused on Pedro Acosta, who continues to struggle with a hand problem that causes numbness while riding. The KTM rider and his medical team are evaluating the possibility of surgery before the next round at the Sachsenring in an effort to resolve the issue permanently.
Assen therefore brought a memorable weekend for Aprilia and Trackhouse, who celebrated a historic one-two finish and an all-Aprilia podium. As the MotoGP World Championship now heads to the Sachsenring, several important storylines remain to be resolved.