Month: March 2018

The 20-lap first Moto2 race of the year, held at the Losail International Circuit, saw plenty of excitement to kick off the season. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider performed well after a difficult start: Miguel Oliveira and his teammate Brad Binder rode alongside one another for the almost entirety of the contest. The 23 year old Portuguese rider crossed the line in fifth.

Miguel Oliveira started the race taking off from the second row of the grid. His race start was strong, but then we was clipped by another rider on the opening corner, dropping from fourth to eighth on the first sector.

From that moment, Miguel Oliveira was part of a group of five riders involved in the fight for fourth place. After several changes of positions, with five laps to go Oliveira was in fifth, followed by Brad Binder and Marcel Shrotter, and they held these places through to the chequered flag.

#44 Miguel Oliveira

“It was a very difficult first race of the year. First of all, because we had a bit of a bad start, and then during the race I felt that we lacked a lot of rear grip. Finishing fifth here isn't a bad result, but I think that our potential was much greater. We were ten seconds off the race winner, so that means that something wasn't working correctly. Now we will think about what happened, and head to Argentina with the motivation from the fact that last year things went well there. If we continue working like this, we will do good things”.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

"It hasn't been a bad start to the Moto2 season. We can't be dissatisfied with the results in Moto2. With the end to last season that we had, we were all expecting some very good results early on this year for our riders. Finishing fifth and sixth is something we have to be happy about; it's a good start to build on for the coming races. We have to improve our rear grip, as the riders are sliding a lot. We need to analyse what is happening, be positive and look forward."

The second round of the season, which takes place from April 6th-8th, will be the Argentinian GP. Last year, Miguel Oliveira achieved his first podium and pole position there through Miguel Oliveira.

Results (Race)

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 40'19.802

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) +0.112

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +5.625

4. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) +6.657

5. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +10.296

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2018

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 25 points

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 20 points

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 16 points

4. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 13 points

5. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 11 points 

The starting grid for the first Moto2 Grand Prix of the year was established this afternoon at the Losail International Circuit. Miguel Oliveira continued with the good feeling he had yesterday, completing two positive sessions. In qualifying, the Portuguese took a very good result, with a fourth position.

Oliveira focused on finding a fast race pace in FP3, although his good work meant that he was always in the Top 5 throughout the session. Although no rider on the grid improved their times from yesterday, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider had an excellent final few minutes to finish third –2:02.126.

Unlike on other occasions, Oliveira ran a single stop strategy in qualifying. It was on his first stint that he was highest up the order, going into the pits in second position and with Oliveira setting his best time of the weekend: 2:00.846.

When he went back out on track, he had a hard time upping the pace. Miguel Oliveira was fourth at the end of the session.

#44 Miguel Oliveira

“Today was another positive day, in which we improved our lap times a lot from one session to the next. I'm happy to have taken a spot on the front two rows, which was our aim. I'm also satisfied with our pace.

Tomorrow I will be focused on getting a good start and on avoiding traffic, so that I can get as high up the order as possible, as quickly as possible. Once we're there, it's going to be about running the fastest pace I can”.

The red lights will go out for the first time this year in Moto2 at 17:20h local time –2:20p.m. (Portuguese local time). Last year, on KTM's debut in the class, Oliveira took an exceptional fourth place.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 2:00.299

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 2:00.607 +0.308

3. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 2:00.843 +0.544

4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:00.846 +0.547

5. Romano Fenati (Kalex) 2:00.899 +0.600

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

MIGUEL OLIVEIRA'S INTERVIEW

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miguel Oliveira previews the start of a Moto2 season for which he has high ambitions -wanting to improve on his 3 wins and 6 podiums from last year.

Third last year in KTM’s debut in Moto2, Miguel Oliveira starts his third season in the intermediate class as one of the candidates for the title. His excellent end to last season, in which he took three consecutive victories, and a good preseason, make him one of the riders to watch at the first Grand Prix of the season, which starts this Sunday in Qatar.

Are you ready for this new season?

"Yes. It has been a winter in which we have not ridden much -or at least not as much as last year. Even so, I feel prepared. When you finish a preseason, you always have that extra motivation knowing that the really important things, the races, are starting. That’s where the points are distributed."

Has the KTM Moto2 bike changed much compared to the one you had at the end of last year?

"Compared to the bike with which we started the 2017 season, yes, but not too much in terms of that with which we finished the year. Some details have changed, but in the end the bike is very similar to that which we had at the final races. We finished in very good shape; the bike was very consistent at all the Grands Prix and we got good results in all conditions and with every tyre compound. I am sure that at least the start of the seasons will be good."

How different is the start of this season compared to last year?

"Last year we came into the season waiting to see what we would find. I didn’t know what position in the World Championship I could end up in. During the weekend we set a goal, which we met in each practice session, and in the end we finished in the Top 5, which was a pretty good start.

This year the objective is similar but we are already confident that practice will go well, that we can do a good job and that in the race I will be in a position that allows me to fight for the podium."

The current champion and the runner-up from last year have moved up to MotoGP. How do you see this season in Moto2?

"Despite not having the top two riders from last year here, I feel that this season will be hard because we will have rookies that are coming very strong. Also, there will be riders who last year were in their first season and have evolved a lot, as is the case for Brad [Binder] or Bagnaia. We have to expect that there will be many riders in the fight for the top positions; as in any season, the key will be consistency and making the fewest mistakes possible. Our main goal is long-term, and we’re looking to place as high as possible in the standings after the final round."

Talking about Brad, how do you think your teammate will do this year?

"He is looking quite good. Last year we saw that, despite him starting the season hindered by the injury to his arm, he finished strong. Now he has enjoyed a more consistent preseason, so he can grow and be up there from the beginning."

"I’m concentrating more on doing well in Moto2; later, if there is the opportunity to move up to MotoGP, then it will be welcome."

This season there are more KTMs on the grid. Is the fact that there are more bikes the same as yours an aid for you to have more data with which to compare, or does it mean even more competition on track?

"I think it will be a 'good problem', because knowing that you have riders that are doing well with the same bike, you motivate yourself more and you know you have to at least be faster than them. There are many riders representing other constructors, and they will all think the same. I don’t think you have to analyse what each bike has, but rather the rider who is on it. In terms of analysing the World Championship, I don’t think that studying which rider has which bike or suspension is decisive. I think that this class is full of details. If you find a riding style that allows you to be comfortable on your bike, you can always be up there."

You are seen as one of the candidates for the title. What are the similarities between the start of this season and the start of 2015, when you were runner-up in Moto3?

"In 2015 it was a very difficult start to the season, because even here at the tests we didn’t know what we could aspire to do. We went to Qatar waiting to see what would happen, and we improved race by race.

This year is different; in preseason we showed that we are strong and we are still high up on the timesheets, so from the beginning we have the potential to start in the top positions."

Is the fact that you could go up to MotoGP in 2019 extra pressure for this year, or is it something you aren’t thinking about?

"I don’t think it's my job to think about it. I think it's a consequence of your work, whether you do well or not. I’m concentrating more on doing well in Moto2; later, if there is the opportunity to move up, then it will be welcome."

This winter you have received several awards in Portugal. Are you happy with how the fanbase is growing in your home country?

"Yes, I'm noticing it a lot and we have to thank everyone, because people are very excited about watching the bikes -and more and more about having a representative of Portugal in the World Championship. I hope it grows even more; of course the goal is not to be famous, but more and more people are recognising me and this is something positive."

A new Moto2 World Championship season gets underway this weekend,  with the Qatar Grand Prix the curtain raiser for 2018. For the second consecutive year, Red Bull KTM Ajo will be fielding a rider lineup of Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder. Following a spectacular end to the 2017 season, in which Miguel Oliveira took three wins in a row and a total of nine podiums. The Portuguese rider arrives at the Losail International Circuit convinced that he can challenge for the title this year.

Third overall in 2017 and the winner of the last three Grands Prix, Oliveira is one of the favourites for the Moto2 crown. This will be his third season in the class, and his second onboard a KTM. He placed fourth in Qatar last season, in one of the few Grands Prix in which he has yet to take a podium.

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA

"It has been a winter in which we have not ridden much -or at least not as much as last year. Even so, I feel prepared. When you finish a preseason, you always have that extra motivation knowing that the really important things, the races, are starting.

Last year we came into the season waiting to see what we would find. I didn’t know what position in the World Championship I could end up in. During the weekend we set a goal, which we met in each practice session, and in the end we finished in the Top 5, which was a pretty good start.

This year the objective is similar but we are already confident that practice will go well, that we can do a good job and that in the race I will be in a position that allows me to fight for the podium.

We have a good setup from last year and from preseason, so I'm sure that at least the start of the season will go well for us."

The Qatar GP takes place at 2:20pm Portuguese local time -3:20pm CET- this Sunday, in daylight after 10 years of night racing.

Circuit information – Losail International Circuit

Length: 5.380 metres / 3.343 miles

Width: 12 metres

Left corners: 6

Right corners: 10

Longest straight: 1.068 metres / 0.664 miles

Constructed: 2004

Unlike yesterday, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Portuguese rider was able to enjoy more than two and a half hours of dry testing time on Wednesday in Jerez. Miguel Oliveira took advantage of this to finish defining his best dry setups, ahead of the first race of the year. Oliveira was eighth, half a second back.

The Moto2 rider only had to wait 20 minutes for the track to dry out. The improved conditions allowed Oliveira to go faster in the first hour than the times he had set yesterday. In the afternoon he lowered these times significantly, with more than 20 laps apiece, and he achieved this with heavily worn tyres. In the second session after he had led early on, Oliveira was seventh -1:42.395. In the last hour of the day, rain that fell with half an hour remaining prevented him from making further improvements.

44 Miguel Oliveira

“Overall, today has been positive. We've tried different setups that have given us very different results -both positive and not so positive. We'll gather all of that to take to Qatar. I'm sure that we have a very good bike for the start of the season, I trust in the team completely to do a good job in the first race of the season. Now we will make a small reset based on all of the tests we've had.

I feel good physically and I feel relaxed on the bike. In the end, we have to finish setting up the bike with new tyres. We're lacking a little bit of luck with new tyres; leaving us with a bittersweet taste because we haven't got the most out of the bike. We'll see tomorrow if the weather allows us to ride in conditions that are at least completely wet."

Based on the bad weather forecast for tomorrow, the Portuguese rider expects to put in few laps on Thursday. He aims to go out on track only if the conditions are fully wet.

Combined Standings Day2

1. Sam Lowes (KTM) 1:41.823

2. Iker Lecuona (KTM) 1:41.960 +0.137

3. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.011 +0.188

4. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:42.011 +0.188

5. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 1:42.127 +0.304

8. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.395 +0.572

Rainfall on Tuesday at Jerez Circuit might not have been as heavy as predicted, but its intermittent nature over the course of the day prevented the Red Bull KTM Moto2 Portuguese rider from making the most of his track time. Miguel Oliveira started the final preseason test by putting in fewer than 40 laps, all on slicks, concluding the day 8th.

The intermediate class 23 year old rider was first out in this week's test. In overcast conditions, Oliveira quickly left the pits to take full advantage of the window of dry track time. However, the appearance of light rain meant that he completed fewer than 15 laps.

In the second hour, temperatures on track were up to 20ºC. With the slight improvements in the conditions Miguel Oliveira continued to try out new setups, albeit with lap times of 1:42.972 well down on his personal bests at Jerez. Further intermittent rain later on meant that the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider stayed in the box during the third session.

#44 Miguel Oliveira

To tell the truth, it really hasn’t been a totally negative day, since in theory the weather forecast was much worse. We have been able to put in some laps and pick up from where we finished off at the last test. We have not been testing anything of note, but we will try to do that tomorrow –when in theory it will be the best day to test things out and continue improving the bike. If it keeps raining over the next few days, we plan to go out when the track is completely wet, albeit without putting in too many laps. We have to ride in a wet session because it will certainly help us in the future.

The test will continue tomorrow, with weather conditions forecast to improve and allow for progress with the workload planned for this last week of preseason.

Combined Standings Day1

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:42.443

2. Iker Lecuona (KTM) 1:42.691 +0.248

3. Romano Fenati (Kalex) 1:42.775 +0.332

4. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:42.790 +0.347

5. Lorenzo Baldassari (Kalex) 1:42.830 +0.387

8. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.972 +0.529