MotoGP: Ogura claims maiden MotoGP success as Michelin delivers in Assen heat
Ai Ogura scored his first premier-class win at the Tissot Grand Prix of the Netherlands, Round 10 of the 2026 World Championship. He was followed over the line by SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team team-mate Raul Fernandez and Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin who has gone to the top of the provisional Riders' standings. Michelin's tires were put to a tough test in the weekend's extremely hot conditions. Read on for more about what happened at the DutchGP.
Ogura qualified second on the grid but fell back to fourth after lights-out due to a technical glitch during the opening lap. He recovered well, though, and a series of quick laps on medium MICHELIN Power Slicks front and rear enabled him to bridge the gap to pace-setters Martin and Fernandez.
On Lap 20, the Japanese rider found a way past his team-mate to take control before the consistency of his tires helped him to pull clear and take the checkered flag by a winning margin of more than two seconds.
Not only is he the first rider from Japan to have won at this level in 22 years, but he is also this season's sixth different winner after 10 rounds, and the 65th different MotoGPTM victor on Michelin rubber.
Fernandez made it a one-two result for SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team after claiming the previous day's sprint, and Aprilia monopolized the top three thanks to pole-sitter Martin.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) were the afternoon's other top-five finishers.
Uncustomary hot weather for Assen turned out to be an unexpected challenge for Michelin's slicks, but its soft and medium front/rear options provided the grip and consistency the riders needed to perform in the heat. They all combined the medium front with the soft rear for the sprint race, while Ducati Lenovo Team's Marc Marquez was one of the few who opted for the soft rear for the grand prix. The defending champion ended up seventh after being handed a post-finish penalty but was accredited with the fastest race-lap (Lap 23).
Following the fall of Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) on Sunday afternoon, Martin (193 points) now tops the championship standings, six and 16 points clear respectively of Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio.
Next race: Liqui Moly Grand Prix Of Germany, Sachsenring (July 10-12).