Miguel Oliveira finished the MotoGP testing day at Jerez after working on some different solutions on the Aprilia RS-GP – some of them gave positive indications. It seems with optimism that the Trackhouse Racing rider leaves the southern Spain track, on a day where he was 15th – as naturally, lap times are not important or relevant on a testing day.
The Portuguese rider tested a different rear section with different sensations: ‘We tried to find a good balance to help us stop the bike and also try to have good stability in fast corners. There were some positive points, some negatives. It’s very difficult for us to work on the rear section. It seems that our bike is a bit more sensitive in this part. Some positives, some negatives, but overall it was good information. We will probably test again on some other occasion‘.
Asked if these positive and negative aspects are related to aerodynamic load on the rear, Oliveira explained: ‘When you generate aerodynamic load while braking, you also generate it while accelerating. Coming out of some corners I had a bit more wheelie [front wheel lift] and it’s very difficult to find the compromise immediately‘.
On the other hand, “Falcão” experimented with ergonomics to try to improve braking, but was not satisfied: ‘We tested a possible solution and it didn’t work. So, what I still have seems to be the best compromise for me‘.
¿Estaba Oliveira más contento con la moto en el día de pruebas o en la carrera de ayer? El #88 respondió: ‘Pareció mejor hoy. Solo tenía un gran elemento para probar al final y realmente no pude juntarlo todo con un neumático nuevo para hacer un tiempo de vuelta, porque la pista estaba bastante buena al final y era rápida. Pero de todos modos, seguimos con la sensación para Le Mans y creo que allí será otra confirmación de que hemos dado un paso en la dirección correcta’.
