Ogura takes blame for late Sepang clash with Bezzecchi
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 2, 2026
Late-race contact
Ai Ogura owned the late-race contact with Marco Bezzecchi at Sepang, calling the clash entirely his fault after the two Aprilia riders tangled at Turn 1 in the closing laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Ogura said he misread Bezzecchi’s move into the corner and expected him to hold his line as he tried to pass for position. He said he would apologize to Bezzecchi in person. He also said he regretted not making the move earlier, when the opportunity may have been cleaner. Ogura described the contact as “70/30” in his favor, a clear sign he believed he carried more of the responsibility even though the exchange left both riders upright and able to continue. The incident cost Ogura a left winglet, but it did not derail his run to fourth place. He later closed to within one second of Alex Marquez and a podium place at the finish, a late push that fit the mixed nature of his race. Ogura’s result showed both the pace to challenge higher up the order and the frustration of a move that came just a little too late. He left Sepang with a strong finish, but also with a mistake he made plainly his own.
Bezzecchi reacts calmly
Bezzecchi did not turn the clash into a bigger issue. He said there were “no hard feelings” after the contact and added that Ogura was faster at that stage, so he did not need to apologize. Bezzecchi also said the collision could have been avoided, which left the exchange in the realm of a racing incident rather than something that carried lasting tension between the two Aprilia riders. His race, though, was much harder than the result line suggested. Bezzecchi said he struggled far more than expected, lacked front-end feel and took a bigger hit than anticipated from temperature and tire wear. Those problems made it difficult for him to attack in the way he wanted, and he said he still feels short on explosiveness since his injury. Even with those issues, he stayed in the fight all the way to the end. Bezzecchi nearly crashed on the final lap before bringing home sixth place in the Malaysian Grand Prix. That finish reflected a race built on survival as much as speed, with Bezzecchi working through handling issues and late-race pressure rather than enjoying the sort of clear run he wanted.
Qatar picture stays tight
The Sepang clash never became a full race-ending moment for either rider, and that matters as much as the contact itself. Both Ogura and Bezzecchi stayed upright and continued, which kept the focus on how they finished rather than on a bigger incident at Turn 1. Ogura’s fourth place stood out because he recovered from the contact and still finished within reach of the podium fight, while Bezzecchi’s sixth showed how much work he had to do just to hold position. Their comments afterward also drew a clean line between the action on track and the tone off it. Ogura accepted the blame and promised to speak to Bezzecchi face to face. Bezzecchi accepted the explanation and made clear he was not holding a grudge. The result leaves Bezzecchi heading to Qatar third in the championship, 23 points behind teammate Jorge Martin. That gives the next round added importance for a rider who said he is still searching for more explosiveness while dealing with the physical and technical limits that shaped his day at Sepang. The Malaysian Grand Prix ended with one rider taking responsibility and the other taking the result in stride, but the bigger championship picture now moves on to Qatar with little margin for error.
