More motivated, more confident in what it would be possible to do in terms of the development of the bike, lighter after almost five weeks of hiatus. Upon his arrival at Silverstone, which this Sunday hosts the British Grand Prix on the occasion of the start of the second half of the MotoGP World Championship, Miguel Oliveira spoke with SportTV and was much more confident than he seemed at the end of the first. phase of the season, he finished with a total of four consecutive ninth places which gives him tenth place overall. The stop felt good. It gave me room to breathe, watch my daughter grow and regain energy. We are very confident for the start of the second half of the season. I think the track will serve the bike well. KTM worked on some aspects to improve it. I’m confident, I feel good,” he said.
“I cannot announce due to contractual terms but my future will be in MotoGP for many years”: Miguel Oliveira’s return to the World Championship
The taboo about the team he will represent in 2023 is practically undone, with RNF Aprilia ahead of KTM and establishing the Portuguese rider in the rookie team in the World Championship after having ended the alliance as a satellite of Yamaha. However, and for purely contractual reasons, Miguel Oliveira maintains the same prudent position so as not to offend any of the parties. On the track, it was a different story. Without fear, without taboos, showing such self-confidence and confidence on the bike. And, after a 14th place finish in the morning session, 0.2sec behind teammate Brad Binder, set the sixth best record.
“This morning I didn’t immediately feel comfortable with the bike. In the afternoon we took a small step and were competitive. I’m happy, and I see room for improvement. On my fastest lap I made a mistake at turn 7 and we also have ideas to improve the handling of the bike in the corners. The goal is to qualify immediately for Q2 and get a good position on the grid”, explained the Portuguese who, in FP2, managed to be almost a second faster than the official South African KTM rider.
Driver Miguel Oliveira sixth in free practice for the British GP
“We tried to find a little more power through the exhaust.” In comparison tests, I didn’t notice any big differences in speed or performance, but vibrations are minor. I prefer the new exhaust, it makes the engine smoother and the sound is different too. This is the same exhaust that we tested in Jerez, which was the first prototype at the time. It was then developed and this is the final product. In Jerez the exhaust was so quiet that I couldn’t hear the bike. It is now significantly higher. My team works very well, they give me the feeling of what I need to be able to ride a little faster. I continue riding as if I were going to continue with KTM”, said Oliveira, quoted by Motosport.
Now it’s (almost) official: Miguel Oliveira will switch to Aprilia. What’s missing? “Everything is ready, but if skating costs a huge fine…”
It was in this context that the third free practice session took place, with the Portuguese betting everything on a time that would allow him to jump directly to another Q2, securing a place in the four starting lines of the starting grid in search of position. as far as possible versus possible. However, and despite having slightly improved the time of the previous day, Oliveira did not finish higher than 14th place in the third free practice session dominated by Aleix Espargaró, going down to Q1 with his teammate Brad Binder, who fell behind again showing that KTM had not improved since the first practices despite finishing the fourth free practice session with one of the fastest times before Q1.
EIGHT drivers below the lap record?
single #MotoGP Q2 things ????#GPBritish ???????? pic.twitter.com/d8XIFqaOWI
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 6, 2022
The watchword was to be one of the fastest in the first qualifying, something that was confirmed in the first part with the second fastest time behind Enea Bastianini. After the break, everyone managed to improve their records, there was a lot of alternation between the top positions but, in addition to Bastianini, it was Marco Bezzecchi who secured the other place for Q2, leaving the Portuguese only 97 thousandths behind the pace. and go out like this first place in the fifth row (13). Next, Johann Zarco became the big surprise of the day by guaranteeing the pole position, in a first row where Maverick Viñales and Jack Miller will also be. Quartararo set the fourth fastest time, starting from a “hot” second row, where Pecco Bagnaia and Aleix Espargaró will also be present.
Are you ready for the return of two-wheel racing? ????
That’s how he #MotoGP the grill lines up tomorrow ????️????#GPBritish ???????? pic.twitter.com/mPYFjHdRL6
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 6, 2022
Source: Observadora
