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It was the green room before the podium at last weekend\u2019s Czech Grand Prix<\/a> where Ogura, quite literally, kept his cool. Never mind that he\u2019d taken his first MotoGP pole position, scored his best sprint finish (second) on Saturday, then led a Grand Prix for the first time on Sunday and finished a career-best second. <\/p>\n At Brno, where the air temperature crossed 30 degrees and the track surface scorched into the 50s, race-winner Marc Marquez was on the hunt for more towels to dry his sweat. Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, third, was gulping bottles of water.<\/p>\n MORE MOTOGP NEWS<\/p>\n EXPLAINER<\/a> The next rider market dominoes to fall after MotoGP\u2019s kingpin commits<\/p>\n IMMEDIATE BAN <\/a> Start devices outlawed, Aprilia boss \u2018worried\u2019 about champ\u2019s surge<\/p>\n Ogura stood, impassively. <\/p>\n \u201cDid you suffer?\u201d Marquez inquired of Ogura, his half-smile knowing what was coming next. <\/p>\n Ogura replied. \u201cI\u2019m quite OK,\u201d he grinned, Marquez glancing to Bagnaia. \u201cHe looks fresh \u2013 25 years old \u2026\u201d. <\/p>\n That Marquez and Bagnaia \u2013 with a combined 106 MotoGP wins and nine premier-class championships \u2013 were impressed with the second-year rising Japanese star was no outlier.<\/p>\n Everyone is.<\/p>\n As Aprilia has become arguably MotoGP\u2019s best bike this season, it has been no shock to see factory pair Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin \u2013 wobbles of temperament and form aside \u2013 show their race-winning pedigree to annex the top two places in the standings after nine rounds. <\/p>\n Ogura, though, has been a more pleasant surprise. The 2024 Moto2 champion was 16th overall in an injury-interrupted rookie campaign last year, but has stepped things up significantly in 2026, taking his first Grand Prix podium in France in round five and becoming renowned \u2013 feared \u2013 for his signature finishing kick<\/a>, regularly storming through the field deep into races with his penchant for being able to save tyre life until the death.<\/p>\n Brno showed how far Ogura has come, while simultaneously showing how far he still has to go. <\/p>\n From pole \u2013 a long way better than his previous-best starting spot of sixth in Brazil \u2013 he led for the opening lap before being passed by Bagnaia and Marquez. He spent the next 14 laps in third place, waiting to pounce late, and then struck five laps from the end when he overtook Bagnaia for second.<\/p>\n Marquez got closer and closer in his vision, but not close enough. The Spanish champion pushed hard, and \u2013 despite a last-lap wobble at the penultimate corner that sent pulses skyrocketing on the Ducati pit wall \u2013 edged Ogura by four-tenths of a second. <\/p>\n Consider it a lesson learned.<\/p>\n PIT TALK PODCAST: Renita and Matt discuss a weekend of drama in Brno, debate Marco Bezzecchi\u2019s ban for striking a track marshal, look at the rapid rise of Ai Ogura, and detail how Marc Marquez has stormed his way back into title contention with back-to-back wins. Listen to Pit Talk now<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf I had another race now, I\u2019d push a little more from the beginning to keep \u2018Pecco\u2019 [Bagnaia] and Marc behind,\u201d Ogura said. <\/p>\n \u201cYou feel fantastic when you have no-one in front, I enjoyed the fresh air. But they were a little better than me today. I felt that if I had a bit more rear [tyre] edge grip, I could have one or two tries on Marc, but the rear at the end wasn\u2019t really performing well.\u201d<\/p>\n For a rider who could have been euphoric about spending all 21 laps inside the top three \u2013 something he\u2019d managed for all of five laps this year \u2013 it was a remarkably lucid assessment of where his shortcomings were. <\/p>\n One week after his best MotoGP showing yet, Ogura figures to be in the mix for victory at Assen. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Assen in the Netherlands this weekend shapes as a realistic site for something immediately better.<\/p>\n The revered Dutch circuit \u2013 with its fast, flowing layout and penchant for corner names that can tongue-tie commentators of any other nationality (Duikersloot and Meeuwenmeer, anyone?) \u2013 always produces fierce racing, and is somewhere only the best conquer. Valentino Rossi won in the premier class at Assen eight times. Mick Doohan, five. Of the current grid, both Marquez and Bagnaia have won there three times each. <\/p>\n The case for Ogura this Sunday?<\/p>\n One, the nimble Aprilia RS-GP will be rapid at Assen; last year, Bezzecchi\u2019s second place to an inch-perfect Marquez, who played defence for 26 laps<\/a>, was the first real sign that Aprilia might be on the march. <\/p>\n And two, Europe\u2019s recent heatwave hasn\u2019t spared the northernmost circuit on the MotoGP calendar; crazy (for Assen) forecasts of 36, 25 and 29 degrees for the three days of on-track action might make this year\u2019s Dutch GP a survival of the fittest as much as a referendum on the fastest. <\/p>\n On the evidence of what we\u2019ve seen from Ogura this season \u2013 and particularly last weekend \u2013 the Japanese might tick two boxes and be in contention for win number one. <\/p>\n Just don\u2019t expect a verbose debrief afterwards if he achieves it.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s your Friday form guide and predictions for the 10th round of the 2026 MotoGP season, with the 26-lap Grand Prix of the Netherlands set for 10pm (AEST) on Sunday after the 13-lap sprint race at 11pm Saturday (AEST). <\/p>\n Marquez reigns after Bezzecchi drama | 17:52<\/p>\n BEZZECCHI: BRNO BAN APPROPRIATE AFTER \u2018VERY BAD\u2019 GESTURE<\/p>\n Marco Bezzecchi has conceded he was \u201cright\u201d be penalised for slapping a trackside marshal twice after he crashed out of the sprint race at last weekend\u2019s Czech Grand Prix<\/a>, the world championship leader forced to miss Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix after being banned by race stewards.<\/p>\n MORE MOTOGP NEWS<\/p>\n TALKING POINTS<\/a> Marquez makes Aprilia pay, Ogura\u2019s wish, Aussie\u2019s \u2018s***ty feeling\u2019<\/p>\n RACE REPORT<\/a> Champ back in title fight after taking back-to-back wins in Czechia<\/p>\n Bezzecchi was sensationally kicked out of the main race at Brno last Sunday, which \u2013 allied with Marc Marquez\u2019s second win in succession where Bezzecchi scored zero points after crashing out of the Hungarian Grand Prix a fortnight earlier \u2013 saw his 102-point advantage over the reigning world champion slashed to just 40<\/a> in two events. <\/p>\n Bezzecchi, who leads Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin by eight points coming into the Assen weekend, said on Thursday that his \u201cvery bad gesture\u201d deserved punishment.<\/p>\n Bezzecchi took full responsibility for his actions that saw him banned from last Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix in Czechia. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI think the penalty was right, and I accept everything,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very bad gesture from me, and I didn\u2019t handle the situation in the proper way. I felt very bad, I\u2019m still feeling quite bad \u2026 not just for me but for my team, for all the [Aprilia] factory, for the championship that didn\u2019t really deserve an image like this, but also for the marshal himself, who was already the one more involved in this situation.<\/p>\n \u201cI expected to get a sanction, because at the end it\u2019s a gesture you don\u2019t have to do.\u201d <\/p>\n Bezzecchi visited the marshal at Brno\u2019s turn three ahead of Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix after being barred from competing, which he said was cathartic. <\/p>\n \u201cI waited a bit to go to say sorry to the marshal because I didn\u2019t want to make people think that going straight away to say sorry was a way to avoid the penalty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI waited until the penalty was confirmed to go there and say a sincere apology to him for my mistake. We spoke a bit, we cried both \u2026 in a bad moment, it was a very beautiful moment for me where I took away a lot of weight from my body.<\/p>\n \u201cBut apart from this, I expected immediately to get a penalty. I didn\u2019t know which one, but at the end it was [a ban], and it was OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Marquez reaches 100 win milestone! | 00:43<\/p>\n BAGNAIA\u2019S BIG MOVE FROM DUCATI OFFICIAL AS RIDER MARKET KEEPS CHURNING<\/p>\n Another significant piece of the MotoGP rider market puzzle slotted into place on Thursday at Assen, with confirmation that two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia would be joining Aprilia alongside Marco Bezzecchi next season as part of a four-year deal. <\/p>\n Bagnaia, 29, has started all 137 of his premier-class Grands Prix with Ducati from 2019, and has won more Grands Prix (31) and titles (two, in 2022 and 2023) than any other rider for the Borgo Panigale factory. <\/p>\n On Tuesday this week, Ducati confirmed Marc Marquez would be staying with its factory team for the 2027-28 seasons<\/a>, with news that fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta would join him for that duration after severing ties with KTM. <\/p>\n Bagnaia either won or finished runner-up in the title for four straight years from 2021-24, but struggled alongside Marquez in their first season as teammates in 2025, winning just two Grands Prix after averaging over seven victories per season for the four preceding years. <\/p>\n After considering a Yamaha offer before looking to Aprilia as 2024 title rival Jorge Martin edged closer to a contract with the Japanese brand, Bagnaia switched course and gave the factory Aprilia team an all-Italian line-up alongside Bezzecchi, a friend and fellow prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of Valentino Rossi. <\/p>\n Bagnaia\u2019s contract has been agreed for several months, but was only announced this week after the sport\u2019s manufacturers and promoters signed off on a five-year deal to run the series for the 2027-31 period<\/a> last weekend at the Czech Grand Prix. <\/p>\n Bagnaia\u2019s four-year contract \u2013 most MotoGP deals are done in two-year cycles \u2013 is highly unusual, and points to a rider seeking stability after his relationship with Ducati became rocky last year after he struggled with the GP25 machine Marquez used to win his seventh premier-class title. <\/p>\n \u201cI pushed a lot for a long-term contract,\u201d Bagnaia said on Thursday, adding that he started to \u201cbuild\u201d the decision to leave Ducati midway through last season.<\/p>\n \u201cFour years seems a lot in our sport, but I really believe in the [Aprilia] project and the support I\u2019ve receive from them is fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n With Bezzecchi signed for the next two years after pre-season testing at Sepang in Malaysia in February, Martin\u2019s agreed yet unannounced move to Yamaha\u2019s factory team shapes as the next logical domino to fall, with incumbent Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo to make way for Martin as the 2021 world champion heads to Honda.<\/p>\n Bagnaia\u2019s deal now means eight of this year\u2019s 22-rider grid \u2013 the two 2027 Aprilia riders plus Marquez and Acosta at Ducati, plus LCR Honda pair Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, Yamaha\u2019s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Ducati\u2019s Fermin Aldeguer \u2013 have confirmed deals for the first season of MotoGP\u2019s 850cc era. <\/p>\n Friendly foes Bagnaia and Bezzecchi will become teammates at Aprilia in 2027. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n HOLESHOT DEVICE BAN BETTER AND SAFER, SAYS MILLER<\/p>\n Jack Miller has dismissed suggestions that the rule banning front launch or holeshot devices from this weekend at Assen could make starts more dangerous, after MotoGP outlawed the use of the start mechanism that has been deemed to be at least partially at fault for a spate of recent first-corner crashes.<\/p>\n After Aprilia\u2019s Jorge Martin wiped out five riders at the first corner in Hungary in early June \u2013 which came after Honda\u2019s Johann Zarco suffered major knee injuries from a first-turn pack crash in Catalunya two rounds prior \u2013 Miller was one of the grid\u2019s more vocal riders advocating a ban of the holeshot devices<\/a>, set to be removed from bikes for the start of the 2027 season, be brought forward. <\/p>\n Martin wipes out 5 riders in mass crash! | 00:53<\/p>\n