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MotoGP title contender Ai Ogura will not participate in the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, as his recovery from a fractured thumb continues. This unfortunate development means his team, Trackhouse Racing, will only enter one motorcycle in the event, to be ridden by Raul Fernandez.

Ogura sustained his injury in a motocross training incident near Tokyo a fortnight ago. At the time, he held a strong third position in the 2026 riders' championship standings. Despite undergoing prompt surgery by the renowned surgeon Xavier Mir, the injury prevented him from competing in the Aragon Grand Prix just days after the incident.

A recent X-ray examination, conducted on Tuesday, aimed to determine his fitness for the Misano race weekend. Medical professionals have now advised the 25-year-old rider against competing, even before the MotoGP medical director, Angel Charte, could provide his assessment on Thursday. Consequently, Trackhouse Racing will proceed with only Raul Fernandez as their representative in the San Marino GP. Lorenzo Savadori, who stepped in for Ogura at short notice during the MotorLand Aragon event, is unavailable for this weekend's race.

Ogura is scheduled to remain in Barcelona to continue his treatment and rehabilitation, with the objective of making his comeback at the Austrian Grand Prix, which is slated for next week. This latest setback significantly hampers his pursuit of the championship title. He is currently 53 points behind the championship leader, Jorge Martin, making his path to the top considerably more challenging.

Trackhouse Racing released a comprehensive statement regarding Ogura's withdrawal: "For the second consecutive race weekend, the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP team will compete without Ai Ogura. Following surgery just before Aragon and the hope that a week of rehabilitation on his injured left thumb—the result of a motocross training crash in Japan after Silverstone—would enable him to ride at Misano, the most recent medical advice, based on an assessment in Barcelona late Tuesday, indicates that he has not yet healed sufficiently to ride. He has therefore withdrawn from the San Marino Grand Prix."

"Lorenzo Savadori, the Aprilia Factory test rider who, on very short notice, agreed to replace Ogura at Aragon, is not available to ride this weekend at Misano. This leaves the team with no alternative but to enter the San Marino round with only #25 Raul Fernandez. Ai Ogura will stay in Barcelona, focusing on his efforts to regain full fitness before the Austrian Grand Prix, which is just one week away."

Rinus VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) celebrated an unprecedented achievement in the 2026 IndyCar Series season, concluding the year with a remarkable tenth-place standing in the Drivers' Championship. This monumental success represents a personal best for VeeKay and a historic milestone for the JHR organization, signifying a significant leap forward in their competitive journey.

The Dutch sensation, at just 25 years old, piloted the #76 JHR Chevrolet to this career-defining finish following an impressive 18-race campaign. Throughout the season, VeeKay demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency, securing one podium finish, four top-five placements, and eight appearances within the top ten. His performance allowed him to outscore formidable rivals from established powerhouses like Andretti Global and Chip Ganassi Racing, including seasoned drivers such as Will Power and Scott Dixon. This stellar showing far exceeds VeeKay's previous best championship result of twelfth place in 2021 and 2022 with Ed Carpenter Racing, and dramatically improves upon JHR's prior team record of sixteenth place, set by Callum Ilott in 2023.

The critical final race saw VeeKay battling to maintain his top-ten position. Despite an initial setback during a pit stop on Lap 14, which necessitated an unplanned four-stop strategy due to an incomplete fuel fill, VeeKay exhibited remarkable resilience. Starting from nineteenth, he quickly advanced through the field, overtaking competitors like Nolan Siegel, Christian Rasmussen, and Dixon. He even recorded the fastest lap of the race and surged as high as seventh. Although late contact pushed him back to sixteenth at the checkered flag, his efforts were more than sufficient to cement his and the team's new career-high championship standing by a ten-point margin.

Reflecting on this season-long accomplishment, VeeKay expressed his gratitude for the collective effort of the entire JHR crew. He acknowledged that while the final race presented challenges, the team's ability to adapt and perform under pressure was crucial. He emphasized that this success was a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaborative spirit of every individual involved, from engineers to mechanics and pit stop personnel, all of whom played a vital role in elevating JHR into the upper echelons of IndyCar racing.

Dave O'Neill, Team Principal for JHR, highlighted the top-ten championship finish as a clear indicator of the team's substantial progress and future potential. He proudly noted their consistent strong presence in the Firestone Pit Stop Performance standings throughout the season, further underscoring the team's overall improvement. While celebrating VeeKay's success, O'Neill also acknowledged the disappointment regarding the #77 Chevrolet, driven by Sting Ray Robb, which unfortunately did not reach the coveted Leader’s Circle. Despite this, he commended both drivers for their unwavering commitment and extended appreciation to all partners, Chevrolet, and the fans for their invaluable support, affirming that Juncos Hollinger Racing has made significant strides in 2026 and looks forward to even greater achievements.