Things hadn’t even gone in the best way in the previous race, when Miguel Oliveira ended up having to retire after suffering a touch in a wider corner by Pol Espargaró. However, in the same Spielberg Red Bull Ring, the storm soon calmed down and, in what was for many the best overtaking of 2020, the Portuguese overtook Jack Miller and Pol Espargaró in the last corner and claimed his first ever MotoGP victory at the Styrian Grand Prix. It was an almost perfect weekend, with KTM putting two bikes on the podiums and the then Tech3 rider throwing the party “home”. Two years later, now prepare the last race for the Austrian brand on that road
History: Miguel Oliveira achieves his first victory in Moto GP at the Styrian Grand Prix
Contrary to what will happen with KTM, which should announce its first Tech3 rider for 2023 this weekend with strong possibilities of being Pol Espagaró (now at Honda), Miguel Oliveira will not present any news regarding the future, despite that the Austrian team will leave following the hiring of Jack Miller to be Brad Binder’s teammate in the factory line-up. However, and for another consecutive weekend, The change to Aprilia has been confirmed… By others. More: In an interview with the Speedweek portal, Stefan Pierer, CEO of Pierer Mobility (owner of KTM), used Portuguese as a good example of how there can be a separation between rider and team, also referring to the case of Jorge Martín a compare with the “bad example” of Raúl Fernández.
“It took time to reach an agreement, Aprilia made a good offer and decided to accept”: Oliveira’s departure from KTM confirmed… by Ducati
“We didn’t want to get in Jorge Martin’s way at that time. [2020], not only because he was successful with us, but also because he is a good guy. These situations always depend on people. In Austria we have a saying that ‘People understand each other by speaking’. It is different if someone treats us decently and negotiates sensibly, as in the case of Miguel Oliveira. Glad to hear you found a good team. Aprilia is not bad at all, It will be interesing. But if someone only knows how to be presumptuous and arrogant, that’s not enough.”
“The father reported that they could no longer count on him”: KTM “give up” with Miguel Oliveira and change to RNF Aprilia takes more strength
“We tried everything with Raúl Fernández. It’s disappointing. We did everything for him, we even signed his brother in Moto3. We have done our best to give you a good overall context. We expected more from him but these situations of disappointment are part of motorsport”, he added, without confirming the alleged claim of one million euros as compensation for the departure of the Spaniard at the end of the season.
Now it’s (almost) official: Miguel Oliveira will switch to Aprilia. What’s missing? “Everything is ready, but if skating costs a huge fine…”
“I don’t know the exact amount but I told Pit Beirer [diretor da KTM] that it is essential that we receive some type of money for this transfer, like in football. I know the Well, it is not an exaggeration. But we invested a lot of money in Raúl Fernández, we brought him from the Red Bull Rookies Cup to Moto3, Moto2 and then MotoGP. He did not give us any results in 2022 ″, said Stefan Pierer about the pulse with the Spanish rider who has also been appointed to RNF Aprilia where Miguel Oliveira should be next season although he is not the only option considered by the team.
“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
Source: Observadora
