Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Portuguese rider complete two positive Free Practice sessions and finish the day in 6th position
The countdown came to an end this Friday and the 2018 Moto2 World Championship season got underway at the Losail International Circuit. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider carried on from his good preseason performance in FP1 and FP2. In the combined final timesheet, Oliveira was sixth; 11 riders were separated by just half a second.
Miguel Oliveira, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, adapted perfectly to FP1 taking place by day, with an asphalt temperature of 43ºC. The 23 year old Portuguese led most of the session, running the best pace and consistently setting similar lap times to finish second with a 2:01.837..
With the floodlights on for FP2, Oliveira improved on his previous best time in the first half of the session. Miguel Oliveira looked to work on his race pace, and made two pit stops. He sets his best time of 2:01.106 on his final run..
#44 Miguel Oliveira
“This first day of free practice in Qatar has gone quite well. We had a very positive day, going second in the first session and sixth in FP2, very close to the top since the times are very tight. Tomorrow we will continue working hard to find a better feeling with the tyres and with the rear suspension. I am very happy with how we have started this first GP of the year”.
Tomorrow Miguel Oliveira will try to set quick times in qualifying to place as far ahead on the grid as possible. The session starts at 2:40pm – Portuguese time. Last year, Moto2 QP was cancelled due to rain
Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)
1. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 2:00.932
2. Sam Lowes (KTM) 2:00.970 +0.038
3. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 2:00.985 +0.053
4. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) 2:01.055 +0.123
5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 2:01.060 +0.128
6. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:01.106 +0.174
