MARTIN AND OGURA HIT START-OF-RACE RIDE-HEIGHT DEVICE PROBLEMS DESPITE HOLeshOT BAN

Despite MotoGP’s ban on holeshot devices for the start phase, Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura both encountered ride-height device problems at the beginning of their race. Martin, who qualified on pole, was poised to lose the lead after running deep into Turn 1, but the situation worsened when his ride-height system became stuck. Ogura, also riding an Aprilia, experienced a similar issue at the start, dropping places in the opening moments. The incidents highlight that even with holeshot hardware prohibited, ride-height mechanisms can still malfunction or fail to operate as intended when the race gets underway. As a result, the start remains a critical moment where technical reliability can decide early positions, regardless of the holeshot restriction.