Month: March 2016

Miguel Oliveira faces next weekend the second round of the World Moto GP Championship in Argentina at the circuit of Termas de Rio Hondo. The Portuguese rider that finished in the 11^th place his first race ever in Moto 2 and of one Portuguese, is confident for the Motul de La República Argentina GP.

This is one circuit that the rider from Almada likes and which, especially after the last race, he is feeling very motivated to return: "Argentina is a circuit that I really like and which fits with my ridding style. After I analysed the last race, I was pretty satisfied with my evolution.  It was the first race in this category and I didn’t know very well what I was going to find so I'm very happy and I hope that here in Argentina I can continue this developing turn and also reflecting it into results.” Explains Miguel Oliveira.

The first free practices are scheduled for the next Friday (1^st April) at 14h55 and the second at 19h05, Lisbon Time.

In the première of the World Moto GP Championship and in the very first race ever of a Portuguese in Moto2, Miguel Oliveira managed one recover of 11 positions and achieved the points in Losail circuit, Qatar. The Portuguese rider did one very consistent race, with a good pace that ended in the 11^th position right before some riders with a lot more experience in this category.

At the end of the race, the young rider from Leopard Racing explained how he felt good on track and that the most important of it was the continuity in the evolution in his riding: “Today it was a good race. I had a few difficult laps in the beginning and a taught start, I didn’t depart as I wanted and I had a few hits with some riders and some falls in front of me. So I had to cut the speed and I lost time in the first three laps. When I found myself alone I imprinted a good pace and I managed to recover positions and at the end I was able to regain a lot of time without doing many mistakes. I learnt a lot and at the end, finishing in the points is a good result so I’m very happy with that and I’m also very motivated to Argentina. I want to continue in this learning process and feeling better and better with the bike and the team.”

At the same time, in Costa da Caparica, hundreds of fans supported the Portuguese rider in one event organized by the fan club of Miguel Oliveira with the support of Almada City Council and Sport Tv. The Argentina GP is scheduled for 01 to 03 of April.

Miguel Oliveira will depart in the first race ever of a Portuguese in the world championship of Moto GP in Moto 2 from the 22th position, eight line from the starting grid, after the qualifying session in Losail, Qatar. The Portuguese pilot establishes as a target to feel good on track, collect more information and to make one constant and progressive race.

Today, the qualifying session occurred with worse conditions than on the previous days with strong wind, as the rider from Leopard Racing explains: Today the qualifying didn’t go as we expected, I was less comfortable with the bike than yesterday and I couldn’t feel good with the setting” start by telling Miguel Oliveira.

“Today the wind was strong than yesterday and that affected my performance a little. At the end, we tried to improve those feelings with one adjustment in the bike but it turned out to be even worse. Tomorrow I will have to make a race from back to front, but I don’t have any goal in particular. I think that finishing in the points positions it would be a good result but mainly the key is to collect the maximum information I can for myself during the race.”

The first race from this new stage of the Almada young pilot is scheduled for 16h20, Lisbon time, and it will be broadcasted in one giant screen in Costa da Caparica from 14h00.

Miguel Oliveira started the best way the first round of the world Moto GP Championship of 2016. The Losail circuit in Qatar was the stage of the first free practices of the season which open the way to Sunday’s race. The portuguese rider from Leopard Racing showed to be increasingly confident with his kalex in two fast and consistent sessions.

Miguel Oliveira started in 13th (2'00.955) and in the second session he was 20^th beating his best mark of IRTA tests and improving his time from one session to another (2'00.635)

“today was a very positive day. I learnt a lot and I had one improvement of my time when compared to the tests. I was also able to do my best lap without using new tires. So I consider that it was a good beginning. Today I was able to took a lot of conclusions about my riding style and what I have to improve, and also in what concerns to the bike’s trust. I can’t wait to ride again and confirm this speed and also to be even faster.” Said the pilot after the sessions.

Tomorrow the portuguese rider will return to the track by 16h15 (Lisbon time) for the third and last free practices session. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday’s at 15h55 and it will decide the grid line for this first stage of the championship. 

The young Portuguese of Leopard Racing is about to begin the first round of the MotoGP World Championship 2016. After the last pre-season tests which reinforced the positive development from Almada´s rider, Miguel Oliveira is confident for his rookie year in Moto 2, at the controls of a Kalex bike and a new team. It is on the next weekend week in Qatar, under artificial lights, that takes place the start of the new Moto GP season 2016. The Losail circuit is a stage with a special atmosphere for all the teams and riders and is where it will be disputed the first of 18 races on the calendar.

It is recalled that even before the championship start, riders and teams had the opportunity to test this same route that was in fact the first stage of official tests for Moto3 and Moto2 teams. With the regulation to be changed this season to give the same opportunity to the teams with fewer financial resources, the pilots saw stipulated 10 maximum days of private testing and the usual 6 days of IRTA official tests. Miguel Oliveira and Leopard Racing Team started its testing program in February at the Catalunya circuit, passed by Valencia and headed to Jerez de la Frontera where fulfilled seven days of the 10 stipulated and where the pilot from Almada suffered a fall and fractured two fingers in the right hand. Ten days later, the pilot of Almada was heading back to the Andalusian circuit to start the official tests, conditioned by the fracture of the ring finger of the right hand that caused him discomfort in adapting to the new category. Already in Qatar, in the circuit of Losail, occured the last three days of official tests that allowed the rider and team to take another step in its evolution, getting little more than 1 second fastest lap of the timesheets.

The anxiety of the Portuguese rider is common at the beginning of each season, but this year has a different feel to race with riders who never ran against. However, Miguel Oliveira is optimistic for the start of the season. "Every year I look forward, but this year is a different feel: there are pilots I do not know and I do not know how it will be to compete with them; It will certainly be a process of discovery and learning. I know I still have to adapt more to this new category, especially at distance running. During the last tests significantly improved the bike and my driving and this was reflected in my lap times, so I am optimistic for this first test. I hope to be among the fastest in a few races. "

Always careful for his fans and followers, Miguel Oliveira did not hesitate to  create a unique moment and organized in partnership with the Almada State and Sport TV, a Miguell Oliveira Fan Club space, where on Sunday from 12:00h everyone can watch a live and exclusive transmission of the first race in Qatar. The space takes place in Caparica Spring Surf Fest at Paradise Beach in Costa da Caparica and admission is free. "I know there are more fans of motorcycling in Portugal and wanted to find a way to meet them. As this is another important moment for me, nothing like feeling the unconditional Portuguese support that is always present. With the support of the Almada State, the Caparica Spring Surf Fest and Sport TV, we aligned the conditions for a live coverage of this first race. I think it will also be a good opportunity to demonstrate that motorcycling also moves crowds. ", Concludes the Moto3 vice-world champion .

The Losail track was built in 2004, is located near the city of Doha and has a total length of 5380 meters. It received it´s first Grand Prix in 2004 but only in 2008 appeared in night race format. The track mixture curves of high and medium speed with a straight finish over 1000 meters long.

The Portuguese pilot made a name for the 7th edition of the city council of Almada intended to promote young talents aged between 12 and 35 years old studying or council residents. According to the councilor, António Matos, the participation of the world Moto3 runner-up was crucial for the success of this initiative. It was received 74 applications which represent about 140 young people involved.

“In such kind of initiative, which promotes the talent of the Almada youngs, it was very important that Miguel Oliveira answered to this challenge with all the availability, being always present and available to share his experience with other young people.” Starts by explaining the councilor who continues: “His collaboration showed to be crucial in order to reach, in this edition, one applications record.”

To the rider from Almada is a matter of pride to be part of a project like that: “For me is such an honour to see my talent recognized and to be able to inspire other young people makes me feel reflected in them. I couldn’t deny my support to such an initiative like this. If my dream and my talent weren’t been supported I would not be who I am today. And to know we set a record leaves me, obviously, very pleased.”

The Portuguese pilot Miguel Oliveira started the first day of trainings of the last official IRTA tests before the beginning of the World Moto GP Championship. The rider improved his time per lap during the day in the Losail circuit, Qatar, and the outcome for him was very positive.

The fastest lap happened during the second session with 2m02,342s: “Today started very well, we began with some setting challenges that pleased me a lot during the rest of the day and I was able to develop.” Started by explaining the Almada rider.

“At the third return to the track I was expecting to get better but then one engine problem occurred that we’re still analyzing. I hope tomorrow I can continue today’s good work and that I can focus on my riding style.” He ended.

The trainings restart tomorrow and the first race of the World Moto GP Championship is scheluded to 20th March.

After three days in Jerez de La Frontera to test his Kalex, Miguel Oliveira highlights the learning process and moral recovery, assuming a positive development.

"Today the goal was to restore momentum after a yesterday particularly difficult day, and making a retrospective of these three days I think the feedback is very positive." Begins by highlighting the young vice-world champion. "On the second day we focused our attention on a less suitable option and after the fall I lost some confidence, however, the negative side of these tests should be looked in a positive way:.Now we know what we have to do the on the next test assuming that the path chosen this time regarding the bike 'setting' did not work and realizing what sould be done to Qatar; To. find a good feeling on a completely different track as soon as possible " Finishes the young Portuguese rider from Leopard Racing.

Miguel Oliveira is now returning to Portugal before the departure for the last official test in Qatar, prior to the official start of the season on March 20th.

Today was another day of work for Miguel Oliveira in Jerez de La Frontera. The second day of IRTA official tests was important for the Portuguese rider from Leopard Racing to continue the line of work developed despite some setbacks, including a fall in the second session of the day and some pain in the fractured fingers.

"Today was a little bit weird for me, having started with a bike a little different from what we tested yesterday, with a completely different setting. We were looking for some stability to be able to go faster in the curve, but we did not found it. Physically, today my hand gave me a bit of trouble and then a fall at the end of the second session did not allowed us to go back on track in third (session). "Begins by explaining the runner-up.

"We are now considering a few things with the team, with the suspensions technical staff and see what can be improved. In terms of driving, we have also analyzed in telemetry what I need to do. So all of this is part of a normal process. We knew that it was not going to be easy and these three days are in fact to learn. "

As for the physical condition, Miguel Oliveira explains that despite feeling more pain than yesterday, he will give the maximum effort tomorrow with the constraints he has. Tomorrow will be the last day of official tests and the first session is scheduled for 09.00 AM Lisbon time.

Lisbon, March 2nd, 2016 – Miguel Oliveira completed the first day of IRTA official training in the Andalusian circuit of Jerez La Frontera with a positive outcome and an increase of more than one second throughout the day. With his Kalex and with a splint on the finger, the young rider from Almada ended the first day quite satisfied and with important developments during the work day.

"It was a return a little bit troubled because of the discomfort that I still have from the fractured fingers, especially the fourth finger, which affects me a little especially in direction changes. It was an adaptation day. " starts by explaining Miguel Oliveira. "We changed some settings and we will continue to work on tomorrow. There is work to do but we have three days with very good conditions and we will try to enjoy them to the fullest. " Explained the vice-world champion that tomorrow wants to" continue to improve. "

"For me it will be important to continue to ride. My goal is to be prepared for the first race in Qatar, and I have to continue to recover and to evolve more and more." he finishes.

The second day of practice is scheduled for tomorrow and to start by 1:00 PM and the expected weather conditions are very favorable.