Solid ! This is the thought that inevitably comes to mind when seeing Miguel Oliveira get up instantly after suffering a very spectacular highside at turn 11 of the Portimão circuit during P2 of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
A very spectacular fall which could have had serious consequences, like than Pol Espargaro, which occurred in the wake of the Portuguese pilot.
Miguel Oliveira : " So today was a bit of a strange day. We had a first session with a little humidity and we were only able to do two runs. So I couldn't get a good feeling and in the afternoon, during the second session, it started quite well but when I tried the second bike that we had in the garage with different settings, there was some sort of problem with the steering damping. Then there was a big interruption in the timing. I don't know what happened, maybe mistakes, but for sure today wasn't the easiest day in terms of how smoothly things went. I suffered a fall, a big fall, on my exit lap with new tires. So I crashed because my rear tire was cold. At first I thought that Pol's bike had hit me but then I fully understood that I had fallen alone: I suffered a highside at the entrance to turn 11. Fortunately, I simply a bruise on my left foot and leg. I then tried to do my best with a soft tire at the front and rear: I tried to set a good time but I wasn't yet confident enough. Hopefully it will go better tomorrow. »
We then asked Miguel Oliveira if he had seen what had happened to Pol Espargaro...
The CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team rider explains: “It was our turn out: I think he came out right behind me, maybe to get a reference. I attacked but there was maybe Viñales coming in a fast lap. I thought so but I wasn't sure. However, I got sideways and didn't heat the rear tire properly. And when I got to turn 11, it was just too cold and new. I think it's a bit of a consequence of the delay we had: We already start at 15 p.m. and we finish at 16 p.m., which are already not the best times of the day, but then we were delayed until cause of problems, with a red flag, then we came out… It's a nightmare and it's definitely not the best Friday I was hoping for. But tomorrow we will have a chance to progress and qualify well to have a better weekend. »
Results of P2 of the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimão:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
