Miguel Oliveira will start the Malaysian GP from the front row. After reaffirming his good feeling from Friday by placing in second in the last Free Practice session, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider finished the job by taking very good positions on the grid in qualifying. Oliveira, in second place, will start from the front row for the fifth time this year.
Knowing that dry track time in Malaysia is invaluable, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 rider made the most of his last 45 minutes of Free Practice. Oliveira improved on each of his three runs and a time of 2:06.698 placed him third.
In qualifying, high ambient temperatures reaching 32ºC meant the Moto2 Portuguese rider looked to set his fastest laps as early as possible. Oliveira again lowered his best time, and a 2:06.432 on his fourth lap put him just 0.026s off pole. He remained in the spot when the chequered flag fell.
#44 Miguel Oliveira
“I felt very good today. I’m very happy with this second position, and with getting back on the front row. I think we can say that we are a little more consistent than at Phillip Island. Tomorrow will be a battle of attrition in a way, because it is very hot, we will lose a lot of grip and it is easy to crash over the course of the race. We will be aware of all these factors and of the weather, which can change at any time; as always we will go out to enjoy ourselves and give everything in the race”.
Tomorrow's race will take place at 1:20pm local time -6:20am CET. Miguel Oliveira will try to fight for a place on the podium. Oliveira has already been on the rostrum at Sepang, in Moto3 two years ago.
Results (Qualifying session)
1. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 2:06.406
2. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:06.432 +0.026
3. Fabio Quartararo (Kalex) 2:06.478 +0.072
4. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 2:06.511 +0.105
5. Thomas Luthi (Kalex) 2:06.593 +0.187
