Let's talk MotoGP: It's sad to say, but it had to end for Miguel Oliveira

It's time for the season debrief. As every winter for the past two years, this column analyzes each rider's campaign in detail, from the lowest-ranked to the world champion. The aim is to provide a reasoned perspective on the performance of each of our heroes, so we can all discuss it together. Are you ready for this new installment, dedicated to Miguel Oliveira? Let's go!

Yesterday's episode was dedicated to Jorge Martin; you can find it by clicking here.

 

A year to forget

 

This article is particularly difficult to write because, if you have been following this column for a while, you know that Miguel Oliveira is among my favorite drivers. And it pains me to say it, but his season was far from convincing, not to mention terrible..

 

 

When we put ourselves back in the context of the end of 2024, it was possible to imagine a successful season: it was always said that the Yamaha YZR-M1 could match his riding style, that he could also use his experience as a factory rider to advance the Japanese project, and, perhaps, that he would have the opportunity to be reborn at the highest level. None of that happened.

The Portuguese player, whom I had predicted 15e In the overall standings, ahead of Jack Miller and Alex Rins, he finished far behind. Once again, his season was marred by a serious injury, this time caused by Fermin Aldeguer in Argentina. These four Grand Prix absences from the start did not help him get used to his new machine.

Oliveira therefore finished 20th in the overall standings, third from last, with only 43 points. It's worth noting that he never relied on consistency in MotoGP. He was a rider of flashes of brilliance, of "moments." In 2024, he still managed to shine in Germany with a top-three finish in the Sprint, even though the year as a whole had already been disappointing. But this season, nothing at all.His best results are two ninth-place finishes in Grand Prix races and one in a Sprint race, and really nothing else. We've almost never seen him on screen. unlike Miller and Rins.

I won't mention his disastrous qualifying results, which has always been his weak point.

 

Oliveira at the end of a cycle

 

It's sad, but I think his place was no longer in MotoGPYes, I've been critical of Jack Miller in the past, but it's clear he deserved a ride in 2026 more than Oliveira. The Portuguese rider, for his part, was ultimately quite bitter about having to leave the category, stating that he still had more to offer. Brad Binder, his former teammate, also said that Miguel was "Too good not to be on the grid". I'm sorry, but I don't agree with their analysis.

 

 

Yes, Oliveira has sometimes been a little better than Miller in 2025, as his fans pointed out in Portimao. But overall, he has been extremely disappointing since the middle of the 2023 season.Indeed, it's not as if the Portuguese rider has experienced a mysterious loss of speed recently; his last notable race was at the 2023 British Grand Prix. He's had time to show what he can do since then, but it's never worked out. So, yes, he's been unlucky and has often been hit. That's the harsh reality of MotoGP, nothing more, and it shouldn't be used as an excuse to keep him. Compared to Miller, since that's the topic, Oliveira is very frequently injured. Why would Yamaha place more emphasis on a rider who is generally slower and has only had seven full seasons out of fifteen in his career?

From what we know, his technical feedback is very relevant, which could have worked in his favor. He could have claimed the test rider position with a bit more legitimacy than Augusto Fernandez, no doubt, but this official BMW Superbike seat, on the reigning world champion bike, It's not something you can refuse.

 

Conclusion

 

Sometimes people try to go against history for no reason. Today, it's time to admit that Miguel Oliveira's adventure had to end at the conclusion of this season, that's all.I don't see what more he could bring, how he could be reborn, show us something new. He's done his time in MotoGP, and, from my point of view, has had a very successful career with memorable moments in all three categories. He's only 30 years old, and I sincerely hope he can triumph in WSBK in the coming seasons, because his legend certainly deserves a world title, at the very least.

What did you think of Miguel Oliveira's season? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport