Ai Ogura was disqualified from the Argentina MotoGP for using non-homologated ECU software after a strong comeback to finish eighth. His disqualification reshuffles race results, aiding teammates and competitors. Trackhouse Racing has a right to appeal within 60 minutes of the announcement.
Ai Ogura, the rookie rider for Trackhouse Racing in MotoGP, has been disqualified from the Argentina Grand Prix due to his motorcycle operating on a “non-homologated software.” This came after a challenging weekend wherein Ogura suffered a crash in qualifying, placing him 15th on the grid, and encountered difficulties during the sprint race.
Despite a rocky start, Ogura showcased impressive recovery by finishing eighth in the Grand Prix, thus positioning himself as the top Aprilia rider on his Trackhouse-run RS-GP. However, his result was nullified following the discovery that his bike utilized non-approved ECU software, a violation considering that MotoGP has mandated spec electronics for all riders since 2016.
This incident marks a rare occurrence of a disqualification due to a technicality, reminiscent of a similar situation faced by Yamaha’s Alex Rins at the Thai Grand Prix, where his practice times were invalidated for using an unauthorized timing device.
Trackhouse Racing retains the option to appeal Ogura’s disqualification, provided they do so within an hour of the official announcement. As of yet, the team has not released a statement regarding the penalty. Ogura’s disqualification results in a reshuffling of positions, elevating KTM’s Pedro Acosta to eighth place, Honda’s Joan Mir to ninth, and granting Luca Marini entry into the top ten.
This disqualification inadvertently benefits Ogura’s teammate Raul Fernandez, who ascends to the final points-paying position in 15th, following a challenging race that included a collision and a long lap penalty, ultimately finishing in 16th place.
Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura faced disqualification in the Argentina MotoGP due to the use of unapproved ECU software. While he had initially finished eighth, his penalty reshaped the race results, promoting several riders up the standings. The situation reflects the strict adherence to technical regulations in MotoGP, and highlights the implications of such infractions for team standings and individual performance.
Original Source: www.crash.net
