Miguel Oliveira is frequently mentioned in the corridors of the speed world championship paddock, largely due to the repercussions of Marc Márquez’s departure from Honda. The talented Portuguese rider is seen as a possible addition to the Japanese team, and he himself expressed to the MotoGP website how privileged he feels to be considered by the team.
‘It wasn’t the start I wanted with Aprilia. I had moments where I wished I had been better, especially not being injured. [The incident with Márquez in Portimão] It was a complicated moment, but since it was the beginning of the season, I took it all naturally. It was a racing incident and I accepted it well. What really kept me going was the fact that whenever I was on the bike, I could perform. I was competitive and fast, that’s what made me come back even more motivated‘.
‘We had very good moments, where I was able to show that I can be competitive with the bike. We used the experience from the first half of the season and worked a little more on the details. The MotoGP pack is so tight, each bike takes its lap in a different way, you have to clearly understand what you need on each track to get the best out of it. My riding style suited the bike very well. At a certain point, I had to get rid of some habits I had with the KTM. With the team as well. It took a little longer for us to understand each other, for them to understand what I needed in terms of the sensations of the bike to go faster. It’s a challenge for both the team and the rider. It’s a joint effort, where both parties have to reach a point of balance.’.
