Miguel Oliveira abandoned the French MotoGP Grand Prix. The Portuguese Trackhouse Racing rider was fighting for a top ten position until on lap 16 he had to enter the pits for an apparent technical issue that was not identified at this stage.
In the early laps, the rider was running in the 12th position he started in, although on the opening lap he briefly lost a position. Crashes ahead promoted him to the top ten and, after four laps, he was in ninth.
It was in that position that Oliveira settled, not far behind Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), until he moved up to eighth thanks to a mistake by Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) on lap 12. However, the Spanish rider pushed #88 back to ninth shortly after.
On lap 14, Enea Bastianini (Ducati) had to serve a Long Lap penalty while running a few positions ahead of Oliveira, allowing the rider from Almada to return to eighth. At that point, he was less than a second behind the rival immediately ahead: Espargaró.
Bastianini’s overtake on lap 16 pushed Oliveira back to ninth once again. That lap was difficult for Oliveira, who eventually entered the pits. After five laps in the garage, the retirement was confirmed. It is the first time this season that Oliveira has not scored points in a Grand Prix.
New hard tire in front and new soft tire in the back
Lap 1: 12th –> 13th –> 12th
Lap 2: 12th
Lap 3: 12th –> 10th
Lap 4: 11th –> 9th
Lap 5: 9th
Lap 6: 9th
Lap 7: 9th
Lap 8: 9th
Lap 9: 9th
Lap 10: 9th
Lap 11: 9th
Lap 12: 9th –> 8th –> 9th
Lap 13: 9th
Lap 14: 9th –> 8th
Lap 15: 8th
Lap 16: 8th –> Retired
