Ogura dealt heavy MotoGP title blow by training injury

MotoGP title hopeful Ai Ogura has been ruled out of the upcoming Aragon Grand Prix weekend due to a training injury,

The Trackhouse Aprilia rider sits 37 points back from leader Jorge Martin, with 10 rounds left in this year's campaign.

But Ogura, who will join the factory Yamaha team next year, will be sidelined this weekend - and is thus set to lose crucial ground in the championship race.

The Trackhouse team has revealed Ogura had sustained a training injury in Japan which, once he returned to Europe, was found to necessitate surgery due to a "fracture close to his left thumb".

Aprilia tester Lorenzo Savadori will deputise of Ogura. The Japanese was sidelined at such late notice that Trackhouse had initially sent out a media schedule with Ogura on it - before announcing his absence later on Thursday.