At 24, Miguel Oliveira will be the very first Portuguese in the premier Grand Prix category since the creation of the World Championship in 1949.
This will be the last step in a climb carried out under the Red Bull KTM colors and which will logically end in the Tech3 team with the technical staff who currently look after Johann Zarco under the direction of Guy Coulon.
A promotion so logical that the young Iberian only thought for one night before accepting Pit Beirer's proposal submitted on the Saturday of the Texas GP last April.
Günther Wiesinger reports his remarks on the site speedweek : “It was pretty clear to me. When Red Bull and KTM bid for this project, it makes sense that the factory rider would have access to it. When I move to MotoGP, our joint project will be completed, because I was already a finalist in Moto3 at Red Bull Ajo KTM in 2015. If I had signed with another brand, it would have caused me a lot of distraction because it I still have 14 races left to do. Having no connection with KTM in the future would leave me in a strange situation within the team. There were details to be resolved about which I had some doubts, but I accepted immediately.”
Has number 44 set any goals for his 2019 season?
" No not at all. Because we first need to see how the 2019 KTM will be developed, there is still plenty of room for its development. KTM has an excellent test team with a top rider, Mika Kallio. I can't wait to see my 2019 bike. But I will stay away. It's not my job at the moment. As soon as I start working for Hervé's team in MotoGP, I will be there 100%. Now I don't want to waste time thinking about which circuits the bike is competitive at and what you should change. That does not make sense."
Last season, Miguel Oliveira already had a taste of the RC16…
“Yes, I was allowed to fly for half a day the year before to gain experience and get an impression. But there are no plans to test again before the end of the season, it's not planned. But once the Moto2 season is over, I will be free to test the RC16. For the moment, this subject does not concern me. I know the transition will be difficult. But it's not something that's out of reach. It's still a motorcycle...
Of course, you have to learn a lot of little things. And I am aware that in MotoGP, during the race you have to adapt your driving style to the condition of the tires. The cartography must also be changed, the whole strategy is important, you have to use your head a lot. It will be a learning process. Each Grand Prix category has its own characteristic. MotoGP is one of them. »
Before his transition to the premier category, the native of Almada does not draw generalities from the previous stints of Moto2 riders in MotoGP and knows that he will be able to count on the Tech3 team to support him…
“You see riders who were very strong in Moto2 and who are less successful in MotoGP. This was the case of Tito Rabat, who had problems for two years. Jack Miller was also an example, but he had gone straight from Moto3 to MotoGP, which was not easy. It wasn't a cakewalk for him for the first three years. So I don't know what to expect. I am convinced that the Tech3 team will help me. Hervé Poncharal's team has been in the paddock for many years and has experience with many great drivers. I will have Johann Zarco's technical team, that is to say the technical team that is currently in the box. I think it's a plus for me. This will help me progress in this category much faster.”
In addition to technique, Miguel Oliveira knows that he will also have to face media obligations…
“It’s part of the job. We get paid for our work…and we are part of the entertainment industry. If you don't want to take on this challenge, like Casey Stoner, it's clear you won't have a very long life in this paddock. If you only wanted to be involved in motorcycling, it would have been better if you were born in the 1980s. In today's Grand Prix world you have a lot of responsibility, because there are six factories. Large companies like Red Bull are investing in this entertainment industry. We need to treat her as professionally as possible.”
Very mature words...
