Things change quickly in the MotoGP world championship, and after winning the last race which took place in Thailand ten days ago, it is in last position that Miguel Oliveira will set off for the Australian Grand Prix on the Phillip Island circuit.
Extremely close competition has its pros and cons. For example, it allowed the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider to make a few appearances at the front during the first day, and even to occasionally lead a session during FP1. But, lap after lap, we had to face the facts: The KTM RC16 is not the best machine for the very fluid layout of the Australian circuit!
After finishing the FP in 18th position, FP2 11th, FP3 16th and FP4 14th, the Portuguese driver presented himself in Qualification 1 where he could not do better than 11th out of the 14 participants in this session of draft. Worse, at the end of it, believing the session to be over, which was not the case, Miguel Oliveira slowed down to do a test start at turn 2 then got in the way Enea Bastianini again in a fast lap at turn 9.
Even if the two men remain quite fatalistic in the face of this kind of incomprehension, the KTM official was sanctioned with three places on the starting grid, thus forcing him to start in last position, AND a Long Lap in the race.
Miguel Oliveira : " I have to be honest, it was my fault. There is nothing else to add. It was a misunderstanding of the information I had, and when you're convinced it's the last lap, that's what happens. I'm sorry for that. Of course, it's a dangerous situation for me and for him, and for any driver. There is nothing I can do to erase this, so I am very sorry about this. »
Enea Bastianini : “ I think I was fast but on the last lap Miguel was close to me and it was impossible to do something different or go to the outside. I lost a little time but it's OK: we'll see tomorrow what we can do. I'll have to try more tomorrow morning to figure out what's going on. »
What's more, the Gresini Racing driver was doubly penalized, on the one hand by being hampered by Miguel Oliveira on the track, but also seeing his best time canceled following the yellow flags waved because of the presence of Miguel Oliveira in slow motion!
Initially classified 13th, it is therefore ultimately from 15th position that he will start.
« We will see ! For me, these two positions are important. The yellow flags were because of Miguel who thought he was in free practice before the checkered flag. This is not correct for me, nor for others, and we know that with yellow flags your time is canceled. But at the moment the situation is like this. »
Australian MotoGP Grand Prix qualifying results (without Miguel Oliveira penalty):
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
