MotoGP
By Günther Wiesinger – 02/10/2020 18:25
The Portuguese Red Bull Tech3 KTM driver Miguel Oliveira caused a positive surprise with 11th place in Sepang. But the future dentist wants to move forward.
Miguel Oliveira finished third in the MotoGP shakedown test in Sepang, Malaysia. His Red Bull KTM Tech3 team boss Hervé Poncharal then expected a top ten result in the IRTA test. After three more days, the Portuguese narrowly missed this target – he finished eleventh.
Oliveira first became acquainted with the KTM RC16 from the year 2020 in Malaysia. «The biggest difference – it is positive. We have tried to improve driveability and cornering with the brakes, and KTM has made really good progress in this regard. It also looks a little better with the engine. But we have to make the package work even better now, because the feedback from the motorcycle is very different from last year. The KTM is now easier to handle, so we had to adjust the setting. We started the test with the setting that matched the 2019 bike. We didn’t change much at first. But it has been shown that the new bike leaves more room for improvement. »
Oliveira had surgery on her injured right shoulder after the Sepang GP last year, and Iker Lecuona then replaced him in Valencia. «I don’t want to say a percentage about my fitness. I can only assure that I am not yet at 100 percent, »said the KTM driver and two-time runner-up. «But I am optimistic that I am fit until the race in Qatar and can easily walk the GP distance there, that is my goal. My physical condition is already better than after my injury in Silverstone. So I can test well, I can set constant times, I was not completely exhausted in the evening. That was important to be able to do a good job with this test. »
Oliveira achieved his best MotoGP result in 2019 as a rookie with 8th place at the Spielberg GP. Miguel is known for his strong self-confidence and has set a clear goal for the 2020 season. “My goal is to go higher every year,” he says with a smile. «Of course I would like to be the best KTM driver in the table. For sure. This is the goal of every driver who drives against pilots of the same brand. That being said, I want to contribute as much as possible to the KTM project in a positive way. So that we can build a stronger motorcycle and see a bright future this season. I expect a positive season in terms of results. But we are only at the beginning. I prefer to keep my feet on the floor and continue working. »
The Tech3-KTM pilot left Malaysia satisfied. «I feel much more comfortable on a motorcycle now than I did a year ago. Back then, as a rookie in Sepang, I managed two laps under 2:00 min on six days, with soft tires and a lot of risk. Now I can drive constantly 1:59 min. But the right shoulder, which was operated on in November, caused more complaints every day. On Sunday after the third run I was at the end with my shoulder strength. The doctors say I won’t be completely pain free for another month and a half. »
On Sunday Oliveira got off the motorcycle at noon, he had from 2nd to 4th of February. already contested the shakedown test. Are you going out again in the afternoon, asked the SPEEDWEEK.com reporter? “Yes, get out of the paddock,” he laughed.
By the way, Oliveira is now vegetarian. “I have 3 kg less than a year ago,” said the lean Portuguese.
MotoGP IRTA test Sepang, Sunday, February 9th:
1. Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 58.349 min
Second Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 1: 58.431 min, + 0.082 sec
3. Alex Rins, Suzuki, 1: 58.450, + 0.101
4. Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 58.502, + 0.153
5. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 58.541, + 0.192
6. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, 1: 58.606, + 0.257
7th Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 58.610, + 0.261
8. Jack Miller, Ducati, 1: 58.616, + 0.267
9. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 58.694, + 0.345
10. Joan Mir, Suzuki, 1: 58.736, + 0.387
11.Miguel Oliveira, KTM, 1: 58.764, + 0.415
12. Marc Marquez, Honda, 1: 58.772, + 0.423
13. Franco Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 58.838, + 0.489
14. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, 1: 58.859, + 0.510
15. Johann Zarco, Ducati, 1: 58.951, + 0.602
16. Alex Marquez, Honda, 1: 59.042, + 0.693
17. Brad Binder, KTM, 1: 59.104, + 0.755
18. Maverick Viñales, Yamaha, 1: 59.169, + 0.820
19. Tito Rabat, Ducati, 1: 59.549, + 1,200
20. Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, 1: 59.697, + 1.348
21. Bradley Smith, Aprilia, 1: 59.841, + 1.492
22. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, 1: 59.860, + 1.511
23rd Iker Lecuona, KTM, 1: 59.898, + 1.549
24. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, 2: 00,100, + 1,751
25. Mika Kallio, KTM, 2: 00.148, + 1.799
MotoGP-IRTA test Sepang, combined times list:
1. Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 58.349 min
2. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 1: 58.431 min, + 0.082 sec
3. Alex Rins, Suzuki, 1: 58.450, + 0.101
4. Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 58.502, + 0.153
5. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 58.541, + 0.192
6. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, 1: 58.606, + 0.257
7th Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 58.610, + 0.261
8. Jack Miller, Ducati, 1: 58.616, + 0.267
9. Dani Pedrosa, KTM, 1: 58.662, + 0.313
10. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 58.694, + 0.345
11. Joan Mir, Suzuki, 1: 58.731, + 0.382
12. Miguel Oliveira, KTM, 1: 58.764, + 0.415
13. Marc Marquez, Honda, 1: 58.772, + 0.423
14. Franco Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 58.831, + 0.482
15. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, 1: 58.859, + 0.510
16. Maverick Viñales, Yamaha, 1: 58.893, + 0.544
17. Johann Zarco, Ducati, 1: 58.951, + 0.602
18.Alex Marquez, Honda, 1: 59.042, + 0.693
19. Brad Binder, KTM, 1: 59.104, + 0.755
20. Tito Rabat, Ducati, 1: 59.549, + 1,200
21. Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha, 1: 59.697, + 1.348
22. Bradley Smith, Aprilia, 1: 59.841, + 1.492
23. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, 1: 59.860, + 1.511
24. Iker Lecuona, KTM, 1: 59.898, + 1.549
25. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, 2: 00,100, + 1,751
26. Mika Kallio, KTM, 2: 00.148, + 1.799
27. Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia, 2: 03.150, + 4.801
28. Takuya Tsuda, Suzuki, 2: 03.674, + 5.325
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