Let's talk MotoGP: Here is the biggest mess of the year 2023

They have not been idle during this 2023 season. During the winter, “Parlons MotoGP” will look at each of the participants in this exercise, and take stock; today, it's Miguel Oliveira's turn, the big waste of this campaign. Did he succeed? Did he fail? Could we have expected more? It’s time for analysis. Of course, you are invited to give your opinion in comments, because it matters a lot. Yesterday, we returned to Augusto Fernández, in an article that you can find by clicking here.

 

What a pity

 

You know this if you have been following this column for a while, but I really think that Miguel Oliveira is one of the best drivers in the world. With a great sense of racing, he is capable of winning several Grands Prix per year even if his machine is not up to par. On top of that, it is, in my opinion, the best in the rain we currently have.

But yet, his season absolutely does not reflect this. In living memory, I had never seen an exercise so marked by bad luck in MotoGP. It was astonishing. As he arrived on a new bike, and in a new team, he was unable to take the measure of both due to repeated injuries.

 

 

First, during the first Grand Prix. Excellent during the Sprint in Portugal, he played in the leading group before making a small mistake in the final moments. Favorite for the podium during the Sunday race, he was eliminated by Marc Marquez transformed into a bowling ball, who also hit Jorge Martin. He had to miss the Argentine Grand Prix, a track on which the Aprilia RS-GP22 excelled, and what's more, in the rain...

Back in the USA, he placed fifth in the main heat after a magnificent overtake on Johann Zarco in the twisty. Then, in Jerez, after finishing fifth in the Sprint, a racing incident – ​​I maintain – caused him to fall with Fabio Quartararo at the start of the Grand Prix. Another absence race, in the middle of a learning period.

Then, yet another comeback, still excellent while his teammate Raul Fernandez was not yet putting one foot in front of the other. Fourth in England in the wet with a recovery worthy of its rank, fifth in Catalonia, sixth in Misano : this guy is a monster of resilience. He even suffered a third blow of fate in Qatar, caught in an accident with Aleix Espargaro during the Sprint. Injured again, he missed the last two rounds of the year. In total, he ranks 16th with 71 points, quite well ahead of Raul Fernandez, all while only finishing nine Grands Prix.

 

Not all positive

 

 

I already give you the conclusion of this article: Miguel Oliveira did not miss his season, I think he did the best he could given the context. But that does not prevent us from noting negative points, which persist year after year.

First, the qualifications. Certainly, the Aprilia is not the equal of the Ducati on a lap, but it remains better than the KTM. However, this change of creamery did not help him to progress on this point. Apart from this inexplicable performance at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix, he does not have another pole in MotoGP, and only four in twelve years of professional career. The last one dates back to the Aragon Grand Prix in 2017, then in Moto2. It's just too little for a pilot of his caliber. Not only does this penalize his totals at the end of the year, but it necessarily exposes him to clashes in the peloton, especially since there are now double the number of starts! He got hit a lot, sure, but it's not for nothing either.

Then, his consistency in performance. In terms of outbursts, he can compete with Pecco Bagnaia and other Jorge Martin, as he proved again in the 2022 season with two victories against none for Brad Binder. But the difference with the elite is the recurring presence in the top 5. When Miguel Oliveira has a hole, he doesn't pretend. I take advantage of this point to talk about his catastrophic end to the season. He had extenuating circumstances, of course, but certain results are difficult to explain. In particular, in Thailand, 20th in qualifying (!), or even this failure in Japan, where he abandoned the race in the rain, his favorite conditions, just before it was stopped. Raul Fernandez had become much better over this period, and was regularly ahead of him from practice to the finish.

In conclusion, I can't blame him. He was too unlucky for his campaign to be significant. And even if this overseas tour was difficult, indeed, very difficult, it would be unfair to overwhelm it 100%. I just find it a shame that the context was not favorable to him, because there was definitely something to be done.

And you what do you think ? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport