MotoGP Austria, Miguel Oliveira warns his colleagues: “the new chicane is very slow”

This 2022 edition of the Austrian Grand Prix will be the last where Miguel Oliveira can say that it is a home event. Next year, in fact, he will no longer be riding the national manufacturer of the Styrian plain that is KTM. But he will always keep this unforgettable memory of the 2020 edition where, after a final sprint under high tension, he offered victory to the RC16 and also to his native Portugal. Will he be able to repeat the feat this Sunday? He doubts it, but thinks he can do well by mentioning the great novelty of this year's route...

Miguel Oliveira raced at the Red Bull Ring from 2016 to 2018 in Moto2, with second place as his best result in 2018 from second on the grid. In 2019, he raced at the Red Bull Ring for the first time on a MotoGP. He qualified 13th but fought his way through the field to cross the finish line in eighth position as the fastest KTM. At the 2020 Austrian GP, ​​he qualified 11th but crashed in turn 4 on lap 9 of the restarted race, causing him to fall Pol Espargaro in action.

We have to wait for the 2020 Styrian GP, ​​for the 900th race of the premier category, to see Miguel Oliveira win for the first time in MotoGP, taking advantage of the last corner battle between Miller et Pol Espargaro. He then became the first Portuguese driver to win in the premier category, while giving the team Tech3 his first victory in the premier category. In 2021, at the Styrian GP, ​​he qualified 12^e, despite a heavy fall during FP1 at turn 3, as best driver KTM, but abandoned the race due to vibrations on his motorcycle. At the Austrian GP, ​​he qualified in ninth position as the first RC16 driver, but fell from eighth position at Turn 1 with six laps to go.

Despite this last experience, which was unfortunate to say the least, the teammate of Brad Binder assures: “ I'm always happy when it comes to our home GP », thus recalling his status as a factory driver KTM. " It's a week where we are usually full of enthusiasm and with all the appointments, there is a definite feeling that this Grand Prix is ​​important, and we know it ". He adds : " we've been very happy here in the past, we hope to have a good weekend and want to keep the momentum from Silverstone. I think it was my best dry race of the season. We want to continue in this good direction during the home GP ».

Miguel Oliveira: “the test team was here a few weeks ago, of course we have this information in advance"

The pilot of 27 years old, who finished in sixth place at the last meeting at Silverstone, recalls that KTM arrives a little ahead of time after a test carried out by Dani Pedrosa a few days earlier : " this is a track where KTM tests. The test team was here a few weeks ago, of course we have this information in advance. But I don't think that's a big advantage.. But of course it's better than nothing. The guys at the factory do a good job testing and giving us all the information we need. It's good to have this and it's certainly a big boost to attack the weekend on a different pace ».

And about the few secrets already known, there is this one: “ the new chicane is very slow. It's a 90 degree right turn and a 90 degree left turn. It will be interesting to see how we adapt and what the lap times and pace will look like with this additional braking point ».

Some announcements for 2023 are expected this weekend, however, the future of Miguel Oliveira has not yet been officially confirmed. “ No announcement is planned from me here. Everyone will know when the time is right “, said the four-time MotoGP winner. We will remind you that the rumor puts him in the future client team Aprilia RNF.