Ai Ogura was disqualified from the Argentina MotoGP due to his bike using non-homologated software. Despite finishing eighth in the race after starting 15th, the infringement has raised questions about compliance with MotoGP regulations. Trackhouse Racing can appeal the disqualification, impacting the final standings and benefiting teammate Raul Fernandez.
Ai Ogura, a MotoGP rookie racing for Trackhouse, has been disqualified from the Argentina Grand Prix due to his motorcycle operating with non-homologated software. Despite a challenging weekend marked by a qualifying crash that placed him 15th on the grid and a sprint race error, Ogura managed to finish eighth in the Grand Prix, outperforming fellow Aprilia racers with his Trackhouse-run RS-GP.
However, post-race inspections revealed that Ogura’s motorcycle operated on non-homologated ECU software, leading to the disqualification. This issue arises despite MotoGP’s standardized electronic specifications that have been in place since 2016, leaving the circumstances of the infringement unclear.
Ogura is not the first rider to face penalties for technical violations during the 2025 season. Yamaha’s Alex Rins had his practice lap times erased at the Thai Grand Prix due to the use of an unapproved device that allowed access to GPS, which is prohibited in MotoGP. This device was believed to be from testing.
Trackhouse Racing holds the right to appeal Ogura’s disqualification, but must do so within 60 minutes of receiving official notification. As of now, there have been no public statements from the team. Ogura’s disqualification shifts all other riders up one position, moving KTM’s Pedro Acosta to eighth, Honda’s Joan Mir to ninth, and Luca Marini enters the top ten.
Additionally, Ogura’s disqualification positively affects his teammate, Raul Fernandez, who advances to the final points-paying position in 15th despite a challenging race weekend that included a long lap penalty. Fernandez crossed the finish line in 16th position after a collision with Tech3’s Enea Bastianini.
In conclusion, Ai Ogura’s disqualification from the Argentina MotoGP highlights significant technical regulations within the sport. Despite a commendable performance in the race under challenging circumstances, the violation related to software use necessitated this outcome. Furthermore, the appeal process remains an option for Trackhouse Racing to address this issue, while the results of the race have reshuffled rankings for several riders, providing opportunities for others within the standings.
Original Source: www.crash.net
