(in update)
After a Japanese Grand Prix where he achieved the second best result of the season, Miguel Oliveira arrived at the Thai Grand Prix in a clear countdown. It was one of the last four races of the season, one of the last four races with KTM and one of the last four races before jumping to Aprilia. and one of the last four races had to prove to the team that he was going away why he was worth a real gamble.
In qualifying, the Portuguese pilot failed to enter directly into Q2 but resgatou essa presença through the passagem in Q1, performing a volta canhão same no end of the session to make the first three sectors faster than Marc Márquez and reach or hurry together with The Spanish. In Q2, and on a day in which Marco Bezzecchi stamped the first pole position in MotoGP ahead of Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia, Miguel Oliveira could not do anything better than the 11th time and it was from this place that he started this Sunday at the Chang International Circuit, in Buriram.
Passed Q1, flew to Q2, landed on the fourth row: Miguel Oliveira starts 11th at the Thai Grand Prix
“I knew we could get to Q2, but it took a lot of effort. But I feel like we made a step forward with the bike this afternoon. We made good progress and I went pretty fast. We know that it is always difficult to get to Q2 and make a good performance, we choose to save energy. I’m happy to have been competitive in Q2, which is always difficult. The race is going to be tough for everyone, quite long, but I think we have a good chance of going higher. A good start and a good first lap will be essential for the outcome of the race.” Almada’s pilot said in the prelude to the race.
A race that, due to weather conditions, started quite late. Thailand’s Buriram circuit was caught in the shock waves of a typhoon passing through the region and, previously, the Moto2 race had to be interrupted and ended without completing all the laps due to the intensity of the rain. With the track completely flooded, with huge sheets of water in several places, the start of the MotoGP race was consecutively delayed. Finally, the start of the race was scheduled for 9:55 am in Portugal, 55 minutes later than initially planned, with 25 laps, one less than initially stipulated.
???? LOOK AT THE LIGHTS! WE’RE GOING TO THAILAND! ????
Bezzecchi drops it on the nose of @88jorgemartin to lead! ????#GPThai ????????? pic.twitter.com/i9cyUJQbQp
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 2, 2022
At the start, Marco Bezzecchi kept the lead, ahead of Pecco Bagnaia, and saw how Jorge Martín was overtaken by Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo collapsed in the standings to 16th position. Miguel Oliveira started very well, moving up to 7th place in the first corners and setting the fastest time in the second and third laps, beating Bastianini, Marini and Martín to finish fourth. Later, Bezzecchi was penalized for a false start and had to give up the lead to Jack Miller.
The Portuguese driver was clearly the fastest on track, proving once again that he has a special talent for racing on wet tracks. and passed Bagnaia and Bezzecchi almost in one go to jump into second and start the chase for Miller. In between, a warning: Luca Marini fell in a corner without having made a mistake, being betrayed by the water present on the asphalt, at a moment that could catch any driver.
faster return to @_moliveira88! ????
The KTM man is on the go! ????#GPThai ????????? pic.twitter.com/7fhHgFK6pg
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 2, 2022
Oliveira was trying to overtake Miller, passing the lead for a few seconds before seeing the Australian retake the lead at the exit of the corner and gain a few meters from the Portuguese. — the distance quickly overturned by the KTM rider, who was running close to Ducati. However, it had finally stopped raining and the sun was already peeking out, with the track drying noticeably in places.
This is another master class on wet weather from @_moliveira88! ????
But @jackmilleraus it still remains in the background! ⚠️#GPThai ????????? pic.twitter.com/UaxLqF2hHI
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 2, 2022
The most awaited moment came 11 laps from the end: Miguel Oliveira overtook Jack Miller and, contrary to what had happened in the first attempt, he resisted the Australian’s response and fled with free air ahead to continue conquering tenths of distance in front of to Ducati. The Portuguese driver did not allow Miller much progress again -who still outlined a reaction and even lapped at three tenths- and won the Thai Grand Prix in another authentic serenade in the rain. The KTM rider thus stamps his second victory of the season after also taking first place in Mandalika, Indonesia, just in the second race of 2022.
Further back, Pecco Bagnaia closed the podium, followed by Johann Zarco and Marc Márquez, with Fabio Quartararo out of the points in 17th place. In short, with three races remaining in the World Cup, Quartararo is now just two points ahead of Bagnaia in the general classification, guessing a real battle for the title until the end. Miguel Oliveira, with this victory, returned to the top 10 and is now eighth in the MotoGP World Championship.
???? #MotoGP THE RACE ????@_moliveira88 WIN A BATTLE IN BURIRAM! ????#GPThai ????????? pic.twitter.com/tMIP1FYUWp
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 2, 2022
Congratulations @_moliveira88! ????????????
AMAZING composure in treacherous conditions! ????#GPThai ????????? pic.twitter.com/idHpkol7Xg
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) October 2, 2022
Source: Observadora
