When everything is official, because it still isn't, Miguel Oliveira will undoubtedly explain why he refused for 2023 the position of driver in a Tech3 team partner of KTM with the assurance of having a state-of-the-art RC16 to accept an adventure with the RNF team, Aprilia's new satellite which will have RS-GP version 2022. Seen like that, Tech3 on one side, and KTM on the other, could take this approach badly which implies that it It's better, in any case, to have an Aprilia than a KTM. But that's not the mood at the moment. On the contrary, the relationship is in good shape with even the idea of returning to Mattighofen one day...
A return which, in passing, will be assumed by Pol Espargaro after two painful and frustrating seasons at Honda. But Miguel Oliveira is not in the same situation as the Spaniard. The Portuguese, in fact, has four victories with the RC16, the last dating back to the last meeting in Indonesia. And at Silverstone, for a Grand Prix which marked the return of MotoGP after the summer break in its last part of the campaign, he finished sixth, his third best result of the season so far, after his victory at Mandalika and his fifth in Portimão.
There is therefore no rejection between the pilot and his machine, but Miguel Oliveira still chose to have a change of scenery. For him, he was too good to be anywhere other than in the official stable of the Austrian brand, which set its sights on Jack Miller. But he still considers himself modest enough to join a satellite team Aprilia which will debut with this manufacturer.
Miguel Oliveira: “with KTM, we will keep the door open for the future"
Everything being clear, there is no cloud in the sky regarding the relationship between the pilot and KTM : " I made it clear from the start that I would continue to give everything for the good of the brand on and off the track », underlines the pilot of 27 years. “ I also do it for myself and my team, who, like me, deserve to achieve better results than before. And the factory rewards my efforts with their support and appreciation ».
Pragmatism appreciated, to the point that it leaves all doors open for the years to come: “ it is no coincidence that our relationship is so good, because we have been connected for several years, which extend from Moto3 to Moto2 to MotoGP. That's why it's also very easy to keep the door open for the future ».
« You never know what the future holds and I'm not the type of person to shy away from any challenge. I see life as a kind of journey where you meet and leave many people behind. I will pursue another project in the future, but that doesn't mean I won't come back ", ended Olive tree.
