Month: June 2018

The Moto2 qualifying session for the Dutch GP was a tough one for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese roder, as Miguel Oliveira was unable to find a spot high up on the starting grid. The Portuguese repeated his seventeenth place from two weeks ago in Barcelona.

In the final Free Practice session, Miguel Oliveira clocked a 1:38.770 best time, undertaking his first stint with fresh tyres and two further runs with used rubber.

Qualifying repeated the dynamics of the last Grand Prix, where Miguel Oliveira struggled to clock a great fast lap. Althought Miguel Oliveira put in his best time of the entire weekend -1:38.228- on his first stint, this was only enough for seventeenth. 

Miguel Oliveira #44

"It was a qualifying session similar to that of the last few GPs. In Free Practice we are very close to the fastest times and top positions, whilst in QP others improve and we stay in exactly the same place as in practice, either with new or used tyres. However, as always our race pace is good and we know that in normal conditions we are up there.

Tomorrow I will have to win back many positions and try not to get into trouble on the first few laps, in order to be able to progress. It's a shame about the results of recent QPs, because the team are trying everything and we are working very hard, but it is not easy to find a solution. We'll see how the race goes tomorrow, because here at Assen it's hard to overtake. If a group forms then I hope I can be up there".

The 24-lap Dutch GP, the eighth round of the season, takes place tomorrow at 11:20am, Portuguese local time. Miguel Oliveira will try to make a comeback for a third consecutive podium for the Red Bull KTM Ajo, after the victory and podium at Mugello and Barcelona.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:37.608

2. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) 1:37.681 +0.073

3. Luca Marini (Kalex) 1:37.689 +0.081

4. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:37.717 +0.109

5. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 1:37.786 +0.160

17. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:38.228 +0.620 

The sun made a welcome appearance for the Moto2 Portuguese rider at the start of the Dutch GP weekend this Friday at Assen. There, Miguel Oliveira had a positive day in which he tried out various things with one eye on tomorrow's qualifying session. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider finished twelfth.

Miguel Oliveira put in as many as 22 laps in FP1. Making just a single stop in the garage, he had enough time to look for an optimal race pace. The Portuguese clocked his 1:38.920 before his first stop -placing thirteenth.

In the afternoon, Miguel Oliveira focused on his setup for qualifying, one of the main objectives of the weekend. This allowed him to set a new personal best lap of 1:38.579 -placing tenth.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“We didn't end up finding the ideal path to follow in practice. We worked with different tyres throughout the day: In the morning we used the harder compound, while in the afternoon we used the softest option. In FP2 we tried to simulate a qualifying situation but we still have to improve more in that respect. However, finishing tenth in the afternoon and 4 tenths off the top is not bad, although we would like to be higher up. We are about to reach the halfway point of the season and it is important to understand which direction to take to continue improving and understanding the bike.

We hope that with the work done today we can improve and start from higher up the grid on Sunday, since my goal is to qualify as well as possible tomorrow. We cannot repeat the qualifying result from the Catalan GP”.

Qualifying takes place tomorrow at 2:05pm. Miguel Oliveira started off from seventeenth a fortnight ago.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:38.091

2. Joan Mir (Kalex) 1:38.191 +0.100

3. Luca Marini (Kalex) 1:38.246 +0.155

4. Fabio Quartararo (Speed Up) 1:38.256 +0.165

5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 1:38.371 +0.280

12. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:38.579 +0.488

The Moto2 class takes on one of the most legendary tracks on the calendar, Assen, this weekend. A part of the Motorcycle World Championship since 1949, the venue is known as the 'Cathedral' of motorcycle racing, and the trip to the Netherlands is always a special occasion. Miguel Oliveira hopes to provide a great result for Red Bull KTM Ajo this time around.

The Portuguese rider made a great comeback in Barcelona, finishing the race in second position, and he is now just at one point off the series leader. Miguel Oliveira will look for his third consecutive podium, after rostrums at Mugello and Barcelona, at a circuit where he has previously won. Victorious in Moto3 for Red Bull KTM Ajo in 2015 at the Dutch track, he also holds a podium from 2014 and was on pole in 2013, all in Moto3. In the intermediate class, last year's Dutch GP was the first time he had fought for the win with a KTM -a bike new to the grid in 2017.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“We had two very positive results at Mugello and Barcelona, which allowed us to get closer to the lead in the overall standings, but it is still very early days and we have to take things race by race. The idea is to continue in the same way this weekend, although there is an important point to improve, which is qualifying. We can't start from so far back on Sundays because it is a risk that we can ill afford to take. We must improve our work on Fridays and Saturdays to come into Sundays as prepared as possible.

Assen is much narrower and very flowing compared to the most recent tracks that we've been at, but last year went really well for us there on our first time with the KTM. It was there that we fought for the victory for the first time, but in the end we were at the back of the lead group. I hope I can get back on the podium and take as many points as possible for the overall standings”.

The eighth Moto2 race of 2018, which will be held over 24 laps, will start on Sunday, July 1st at 11:20pm Portuguese local time.

Circuit information – TT Circuit Assen

Length: 4.542 m. / 2,822 miles

Width: 14 metres

Left corners: 6

Right corners: 12

Longest straight: 487 m. / 0,303 miles

Constructed: 1955

Modified: 2012

Miguel Oliveira placed second in this Sunday's Catalan GP, and did so with his typical flourish. The winner of the Italian GP a fortnight ago after an amazing comeback, at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit he fought back from seventeenth to place on the podium once more.

The start to the race saw Miguel Oliveira breeze past 10 riders in the opening sector. He then began to put in fast laps, moving into the podium spots by Lap 5. The Portuguese would lead the race for two laps, dropping back to second on Lap 10. He opted not to exceed the limit and came home in second place, aiding his title aspirations. 

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

"It was another impressive race by Miguel [Oliveira]. I have to say that this morning I was a little worried, because our times with new tyres were not at the level we were expecting and the times in the warmup were not good enough either. However, at the key moment Miguel gave everything he had and once again demonstrated his great racing spirit. I want to thank him, the team, KTM, Red Bull and all the partners for making this podium possible.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“It was a very positive race. Here it was important not to lose too many points and, finally, we ended up getting twenty more for the overall standings. I am very happy because we took a good result for the team after a very tough weekend. In qualifying we had some problems with the bike, so now we will try to focus on improving our performance in practice -which will allow us not to start from so far back and have to take so many risks at the beginning of the race. Although we've been doing well up to now, the season is long and we must be consistent, so the team are working to find a solution.

When I crossed the finish line, on the lap of honour, I was waving to the fans and I didn't have my hands on the handlebars. Suddenly, I felt that I'd been hit from behind. Fortunately nobody was hurt. In the end, it's a good second place that is very important for the World Championship”.

After his fifth podium of the season, Miguel Oliveira remains in second place in the overall standings with 118 points. He is just one point off the series leader. The next round will be the Dutch TT on July 1st at Assen.

Results (Race)

1. Fabio Quartararo (Speed Up) 38:22.059

2. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +2.492

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +3.485

4. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) +4.398

5. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) +4.687

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2018

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 119 points

2. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 118 points

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 94 points

4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 93 points

5. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 70 points

Miguel Oliveira got today the seventeenth best time after not feeling totally comfortable on track. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider continued to have his elbow injured after yesterday’s crash on FP2.

The Portuguese rider of 23 years old took some cautious approach after a knock to his elbow in a crash yesterday in FP2,  but was able to lower his best time and finish in fourteenth place -1:44.342.

The 53°C track temperature for qualifying made things challenging for Miguel Oliveira. He would have to modify his setup in order to set his best time, and he did so on his last stint. Miguel Oliveira finished seventeenth -1:44.429.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“Our progress throughout the weekend has not been as positive as we would have liked. Our rivals have greatly improved their times and we have not done so by as large a margin. In qualifying the biggest problem was the lack of grip; the bike didn't turn in much and I had to force things, which caused it to slide out. I'm on Row 6, which isn't great because I'm right in the middle of the grid. I hope tomorrow we can improve our setup and make a good comeback from the beginning. The strategy is to gain places early and then do our best in what will be a tough race for everybody.

Tomorrow the race begins earlier than qualifying, so all the riders will have a little more grip. Physically I don't feel as strong, as I have a bit of pain in my elbow, but I don't think there will be any problems; we'll see how it behaves in the race. Let's see if tomorrow in the warmup we can find the path that allows us to be more competitive; In the race we will fight hard to be up there”.

The Portuguese rider will try to fight for a place on the podium at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit tomorrow -something he has already done before. The 22-lap race will start at 11:20am Portuguese local time.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Fabio Quartararo (Speed Up) 1:43.474

2. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +0.116

3. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) +0.145

4. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) +0.347

5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.393

17. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.955

On the first day of Catalan GP, the good work that many teams, including Red Bull KTM Ajo, carried out at the end of May in a test, paid off with fast times. The Moto2 field had adapted well to the new asphalt and a new Turn 13 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, and the pace was so even that the tenth best time, set by Miguel Oliveira, was just 351 thousandths of a second off the top spot.

The setup worked on in the test allowed the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo to head the timesheets in the opening minutes of the FP1. Miguel Oliveira made just a single stop in the pits after long runs, ending the session with new tyres, in eighth -1:44.576.

The 44°C track temperature provided a new variable for FP2. It meant that very few riders would lower their previous times, and Miguel Oliveira was thousands of a second off doing so. Back among the fastest riders and still inside the Top 10, Miguel Oliveira was fifth -1:44.592-. The Portuguese suffered a crash on the fast Turn 9 with 6 minutes remaining, but escaped unharmed.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“It has been a very good day, I felt very comfortable with the bike at all times. In FP2 the conditions were more difficult but we matched our times, which is very positive. When we put on the new tyre I was pushing hard, and on my first lap I lost the front on a fast corner and unfortunately went down. I hit my right elbow, which has swollen up, but it isn't anything serious and tomorrow we will be able to work like always. We have a good pace; the crash prevented me from looking for our fastest lap, but I am very happy about how the bike is behaving.

Doing the test here three weeks ago has helped, as we have been able to find our way much more easily. Tomorrow we have to continue like that”

Moto2 qualifying takes place tomorrow at 2:05pm Portuguese local time, and Miguel Oliveira will look for a position on the starting grid higher up than at Mugello a fortnight ago

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:44.225

2. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +0.115

3. Marcel Schrotter (Kalex) +0.115

4. Joan Mir (Kalex) +0.115

5. Augusto Fernandez (Kalex) +0.135

10. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.351

The Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit hosts the seventh round of the Moto2 World Championship this weekend, and the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider comes into the event in the best possible way after taking his first victory of the season at the Italian GP. Miguel Oliveira will seek to fight for the podium at a modified track where he has already tested at the end of last month.

Miguel Oliveira’s win at Mugello last time out helped him to close the gap to the series leader to just 13 points. This weekend’s venue also holds good memories for the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider; it was there that he earned his first Moto3 podium in 2012 with a third place, the same result he achieved there last season in Moto2.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“At Mugello we got a victory for which we had been fighting since the beginning of the season, so it would be very nice to take a second win in Barcelona. An important thing for us would be to take a step forward in the qualifying session, so as not to have to risk so much on Sunday. With the base that we have from the days of testing in Barcelona and Mugello, we are prepared to achieve that. We have already tested with the layout changes, so in theory we will not find anything new here. The asphalt has very good grip and almost no bumps, so it will certainly be a very interesting weekend.”

This season the circuit has undergone a complete resurfacing and a new Turn 13 has been created, which replaces the previous chicane. The seventh Moto2 race of 2018, which will be run over 22 laps, will start on Sunday, June 17th at 11:20am Portuguese local time.

Circuit information – Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit

Length: 4.627 m / 2,875 miles

Width: 12 metres

Left corners: 6

Right corners: 8

Longest straight: 1.047 m / 0,650 miles

Constructed: 1991

Modified: 2018

After fightbacks from Miguel Oliveira in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, the Portuguese rider stayed on at Mugello on Monday for a day of testing. The Red Bull KTM Ajo 23 years old rider was very happy with his work, although rainfall midway through the afternoon altered the track conditions for the final session.

Yesterday's race winner Miguel Oliveira -who put in 52 laps- made the most of the three hours of track time at his disposal this Monday at Mugello. The work plan was principally focused on confirming the findings of last week's test in Barcelona, under different conditions and at a different track, to make a more complete assessment of the new developments. Specific work was done on chassis setup.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“After taking the win yesterday, today we had a positive day of testing in Italy. We tested some parts that we had also tried out in the race yesterday and at the Barcelona test last week. Today we didn't try any new parts. We tried to test the front suspension and chassis setup, to see how to ride the bike better. In general, I am very pleased with how everything has gone, so we are looking forward to next week in Barcelona”.

The next time that the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider will get on his Moto2 bike will be next week, at the Catalan GP from June 15th-17th.

A thrilling performance at Mugello on Sunday took Miguel Oliveira to his first victory of the season, as he fought his way through the field and clinched the win on the final lap. 

Miguel Oliveira had a masterclass of a start, as he took off from eleventh on the grid but was already up into fifth coming out of the opening corner. By the time the first lap came to an end, he was riding in third. The Portuguese rider would not leave the podium positions from then on, and would battle with first Pasini and Bagnaia, then late on with Baldassarri. Eventually, it was the Portuguese who took the chequered flag first. 

Miguel Oliveira #44

"Starting from so far back on the grid, I knew I had to make a good start. I pushed my hardest on the first lap and, shortly after, I was already up into third. Pasini was very strong and very fast, but I saw that I had a chance to win the race and, simply, I decided to go for it. Baldassarri also had a great pace, and I fought with him until the last lap. It was a very fun and spectacular battle.

I am very happy to have taken this victory that we had been chasing since the beginning of the season. I have to thank the team because they worked really hard, and from FP3 to qualifying we had to change the bike almost completely; in the end, it worked out very well.” 

With the 25 points earned today, Miguel Oliveira continues in second in the overall standings and cuts the gap to the series leader to 13 points difference. 

Results (Race)

1. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 39:42.018

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) +0.184

3. Joan Mir (Kalex) +0.334

4. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) +0.484

5. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +3.537

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2018

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 111 points

2. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 98 points

3. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 84 points

4. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 78 points

5. Joan Mir (Kalex) 64 points