“Together we conquered 37 podiums, of which 14 were victories, so it is a route that I am very proud of. We still have races to finish this season, I think that number can still be increased. That is our hope until the last lap of the Valencia Grand Prix”. Even on the day he was introduced as the new Aprilia rider for 2023, Miguel Oliveira kept his ambition to succeed with KTM. And part of that intention had a new chapter this weekend.
In the San Marino Grand Prix, the first in which the Portuguese rider participates after having made official what everyone already knew -he will leave KTM and head to RNF, Aprilia’s satellite team-, the goal was naturally to make the best possible result and show that he still doesn’t think about the next season and still wants to have a good final stretch of the season. A goal that did not start in the best way.
“It’s the step I need as a driver.” Miguel Oliveira leaves KTM and will race with Aprilia in 2023
The Portuguese rider was only 18th in the first free practice session, still on Friday, and crashed in the second, in a fall without physical consequences but which prevented him from finishing among the top 10 in both sessions, finishing 12th. difficult in the first practice. I did not feel good with the front wheel, I think the surface was not in good condition, with the floor slippery after the rain that night. Then the team managed to get me a good bike for the second practice and I managed to improve practice. The feeling was much better, it was consistent and fast. But I lost a lot of time in the last five minutes on the new rear tyre. With the soft compound I had a lot more grip but also a lot more vibration, so I couldn’t avoid the crash at turn 10″, explained Miguel Oliveira.
This Saturday morning, the native Portuguese from Almada continued with these good impressions. Despite the fact that he crashed again at the end of the third free practice session, the rider managed to improve his personal record and enter directly into Q2, also benefiting from the cancellation of their respective times for Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. There, Miguel Oliveira was still riding in the first positions but he hadn’t finished getting past 10th place, where he will start in this Sunday’s race. Jack Miller won the pole positionsomething he had not achieved since 2018, and he was followed by Enea Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi, with Pecco Bagnaia setting the second fastest time but falling fifth due to a penalty.
LONG LIVE MILLER! ?????????@jackmilleraus takes his first POLE POSITION in FOUR years! ????#SanMarinoGP ????????? pic.twitter.com/CN60fk9gT2
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) September 3, 2022
Source: Observadora
