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0.648 seconds separated this Saturday, qualifying day, Miguel Oliveira from pole position in the Jerez – Angel Nieto Circuito, to dispute the fourth round of the Motorcycling World Championship, which is taking place this weekend in Spain.

Although with an FP3 still reflecting the technical issues felt by Portuguese rider the previous day, Miguel Oliveira managed to overcome the times recorded in Friday’s free practice sessions, setting his mark in 1min42,806s.

Hot, dry weather and asphalt rising to 44ºC marked the qualifying session. Miguel Oliveira consistently lapped in 1min42, having made two pit stops – one to change tires. About five minutes from the end of the qualifying session, between several hot laps released, the 23-year-old lost the front of his KTM and a low-side shot him to the asphalt without being injured. He closed the qualifying session with the 14th time, 1min42,573s, when about 20 pilots also signed their times in the same second.

Miguel Oliveira # 44

“I have a race pace for tomorrow, and I can be consistent and not make many mistakes, but I have always been lacking a bit of speed so far this weekend. The bike is working very well and the team have helped me improve a lot. Going only two tenths quicker would have taken me forward three rows.

Tomorrow we will try to gain as many positions as possible, and avoid incidents at the first corner. At the end of the race it will be very hot and the grip level will go down a lot, so I think it is a matter of being consistent and making the most of every lap, every tenth, to move up as many places as we can. I hope we can do that and get a good result".

Tomorrow, Miguel Oliveira will then takes off 5th on the grid line for the race with time scheduled for 11:20 a.m., local Portuguese time.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 1:41.925

2. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:41.996 +0.071

3. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:42.064 +0.139

4. Jorge Navarro (Kalex) 1:42.324 +0.399

5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.362 +0.437

14. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:42.573 +0.648

Miguel Oliveira will be the first Grand Prix star to come through the entire Red Bull KTM MotoGP system after inking a contract to represent the brand in the premier class for the 2019 season. The Portuguese will ride for the Tech3 team after enjoying success in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, Moto3 and is currently fighting for spoils in the Moto2 division

Miguel Oliveira: “It is very early in the season but I am really happy that KTM have seen enough from this year and the last to trust me and believe I deserve this opportunity in MotoGP. I’m really thankful for that. I’ve always dreamed of MotoGP. I had it as a goal and to be able to achieve that is something so positive. We still have a long Moto2 season ahead and the fact that this is already done allows me to relax and really focus on my riding. I have been through all the steps that Red Bull and KTM have together since the Rookies Cup; I believe I’m the first. I think that shows other riders can trust in KTM and their project. I think I have the skills and the will to be able to perform well on a MotoGP bike.”

Pit Beirer (KTM Motorsports Director): “This is an emotional step for us because it proves all what we have said about building a structure in this paddock and being able to come from the Red Bull Rookies Cup, go through the classes with us and end up in a MotoGP team. Together with Aki Ajo we created the Moto2 project to be the platform that develops riders for MotoGP and I have to thank Aki for this partnership because he is doing a great job with the riders; if they come out of his ‘school’ then they are ready for MotoGP and I’m happy we can give a chance to Miguel. At the same time I’m also pleased that he can trust us as the right partner to try and be a successful MotoGP rider. We already have a great line-up of talent and there is still one spot open. It feels great to know we can have Herve (Poncharal), Aki and Mike Leitner around the table to make our strategy in this paddock. Miguel has his goals for race wins, podiums and the title in Moto2 this year and he has our full support for that and then his MotoGP career will start in Valencia.”

23 year old Miguel Oliveira joined the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team in 2015 and clinched six wins and nine podium finishes. He immediately graduated to Moto2 and in 2017 again grasped nine trophies with three victories. He already has two rostrum appearances in 2018 on the KTM Moto2 machine in the intermediate category. Oliveira, the first Portuguese to participate in the maximum category of world motorcycling racing, confirmed his MotoGP contract after the first day of the Gran Premio Red Bull de España at Jerez.

The Moto2 World Championship moves on to Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, this weekend, for the fourth round of the 2018 campaign. The series begins a run of 11 European rounds that continues through to October, starting with the Red Bull Grand Prix of Spain. Miguel Oliveira comes into the race satisfied with his latest results but hungry for more. The Portuguese rider has already been on the podium at Jerez, and will be out to repeat the feat this Sunday afternoon.

Miguel Oliveira has yet to win at the Spanish track, but the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider has placed on the rostrum twice –in 2015 in Moto3 and in 2017 in Moto2. Should he take victory this weekend, he would break into double figures with his tenth Grand Prix triumph. Achieving a third consecutive podium finish would also mean his 25th time inside the Top 3.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“We arrive in Jerez after two consecutive podiums, and the overall standings are tightening up. In preseason, we took a while to repeat the lap times that we managed in testing at the end of last year. In the Red Bull Grand Prix of Spain the temperature is always very hot, so we will have to work to find the setup for the bike that best suits these characteristics. One of our first objectives will be, above all, to improve our grid position in the qualifying session. I hope we can have a good race, get on the podium again and, if possible, fight for the victory. We will try to go one step further with the consistency that we have, and enjoy a good first weekend in Europe”

This will be the first of four Spanish events in 2018. The 23-lap Moto2 race will begin at 11:20pm on Sunday, Portuguese local hour.

Circuit information – Jerez

Length: 4.423 m / 2.748 miles

Width: 11 metres

Left corners: 5

Right corners: 8

Longest straight: 607 m / 0.377 miles

Constructed: 1986

Modified: 2017

Miguel Oliveira was able to place on the podium at the Circuit Of The Americas, one of the few tracks on the calendar where he had not been on the rostrum before, on Sunday. Coming through from the fourth row of the grid, the Portuguese worked his way up the order lap after lap, to finally finish in a magnificent third position.

Starting from the fourth, Miguel Oliveira did not have an easy task ahead. However, he got off the line well, completing the first lap in eighth place. From there, the Portuguese began to push and gain places as the laps went by. A key moment in his race came with 8 laps remaining, when he was able to get into third place and start a final charge. Despite escaping and cutting the gap to the rider in second place, he would finish just over 1 second behind, in third.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

"We should be very happy with the results of the Moto2 race in Austin today, and even more so after the qualifying session yesterday –which didn’t go as expected after a good Friday of Free Practice sessions. Racing is like that sometimes, so of course we need to analyse what happened on Saturday in depth. Today I am very proud of the team and our riders. I thank them for the work done throughout the entire weekend."

#44 Miguel Oliveira

“I am very tired after today's race, because it was a very interesting, demanding round, and also very tough when starting from a position so far back on the grid. The start was not easy, but in the end I was able to avoid contact with other riders on the first corner. Later, as the laps went on, it was difficult because we were skidding around a lot. It was not the perfect weekend for us, but we are back on the podium for the second consecutive race and this makes me happy. Now it's time to go back to Europe and face a circuit where we have ridden a lot: Jerez!”.

After the first three races of the season, the Moto2 World Championship now heads to Europe. Miguel Oliveira will come into the Red Bull Spanish GP at Jerez -on May 6th- in fourth place overall with 43 points.

Results (Race)

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 39:30.016

2. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +2.464

3. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +3.704

4. Joan Mir (Kalex) +5.376

5. Iker Lecuona (KTM) +6.867

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2018

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 57 points

2. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 47 points

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 47 points

4. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 43 points

5. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 39 points

Miguel Oliveira experienced a strange Saturday at the Circuit of The Americas. After completing the three Free Practice sessions as the fastest rider, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider was unable to repeat his best times in qualifying, and will start the Red Bull GP of The Americas from the fourth row.

Flags indicating rain were shown right from the start of FP3, but the rainfall was so mild and intermittent that Miguel Oliveira rode fast with slicks -albeit without improving his times from yesterday. Miguel Oliveira headed the timesheets for a spell. Finally, the rain sent all the riders back to the pits a few minutes before the 45 minute long session ended, with the Portuguese rider in fourth -2:11.298.

In qualifying, the rain made way for a completely cloudy sky, but that allowed the riders in the intermediate class to go out again with slicks. However, right from the start the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider did not have the same feeling as before, and he was outside the Top5. Miguel Oliveira has not been able to repeat his best times from the weekend, settling for twelfth -2:11.321.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“Overall, it’s been a tough day. The track conditions for qualifying saw the grip level improve greatly. The temperature was lower, there was more rubber laid down and the track was cleaner, but in our case we found that difficult with new tyres and were unable to set a good lap time. In spite of that, we were only 3 tenths off third position. We have to try to improve the setup in the warmup ahead of the race. It will be a long race, so we will try to start well and make up positions”.

Despite starting from further back than expected, Miguel Oliveira will look to get his good feeling back on raceday and ride at the front. The race will start at 6:20pm, Portuguese local time.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 2:10.588

2. Sam Lowes (KTM) 2:10.744 +0.156

3. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 2:10.993 +0.405

4. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 2:11.009 +0.421

5. Joan Mir (Kalex) 2:11.124 +0.536

12. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:11.321 +0.733

Friday was a magnificent first day at the Circuit of The Americas for Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira. The 23 year old rider was the man to beat, taking the top spot in both FP1 and FP2.

Dust on some parts of the track did not prove to be a problem for Miguel Oliveira, who dominated FP1 from start to finish. He led the way in the opening minutes, improving his own times until just before the chequered flag fell and clocking a top lap of 2:12.104. 

In FP2, the Red Bull KTM Ajo Portuguese rider encountered a cleaner track, which allowed him to ride in the 2:11s from the start. The script remained unchanged for Miguel Oliveira, however, who immediately resumed his position at the top of the timesheets. His 2:11.104 time made him the best rider in the afternoon session.

#44 Miguel Oliveira

“I felt good on this opening day of the Red Bull GP of The Americas. Besides topping the timesheets, I also think that we did a good job with the race in mind. Unlike last year, the track isn't in the best condition, so you can't lose focus at any time. We will see what happens tomorrow because the forecast is for rain, so we hope to find the best setup for a good spot on the grid. We're satisfied with the work we did today, and tomorrow we will continue in the same way, whatever the conditions might be”.

Tomorrow, Miguel Oliveira will look for a position on the starting grid that avoids the need for a raceday fightback. Qualifying takes place at 9:05pm Portuguese local time, and is expected to be contested in wet conditions.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)

1. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:11.104

2. Sam Lowes (KTM) 2:11.125 +0.021

3. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 2:11.173 +0.069

4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 2:11.339 +0.235

5. Joan Mir (Kalex) 2:11.450 +0.346

For the third consecutive year, the Circuit Of The Americas in Austin will be the venue for the only Moto2 round held in the United States. It is a Grand Prix to which the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Portuguese rider arrives with having taken his first podium of the season in Argentina.

There are few circuits on this year’s calendar where Miguel Oliveira has not placed on the podium, and Austin is one of them. This is a challenge that the Portuguese wants to overcome this weekend. The podium he achieved two weeks ago in Argentina, after fighting for the victory throughout the race, will serve as additional motivation. Last year, in his first experience of the track with the KTM, he claimed a commendable sixth place.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“Honestly, the podium we achieved in Argentina gives us a little more peace of mind to face this third round. In any case, the Circuit Of The Americas is a very tricky circuit, with many changes of direction. We have to take advantage of all the track time we have available. Last year we didn’t have our best weekend, but even so we finished sixth, so we will at least try to improve on that result on Sunday. With the experience we have from last year, we will try to do our best”.

The third round of the season will be the last before a run of European events. The Moto2 race will start at 3:10pm portuguese local time, on Sunday, and will consist of 18 laps.

Friday, 20th of april

16h55 – 17h40: Moto2 FP1

21h05 – 21h50: Moto2 FP2

Saturday, 21st of april

16h55 – 17h40: Moto2 FP3

21h05 – 21h50: Moto2 Qualifying

Sunday, 22nd of april

15h10 – 15h30: Moto2 Warm Up

18h20: Moto2 Race

Circuit information – Circuit of The Americas (COTA)

Length: 5.513 m / 3.426 miles

Width: 15 metres

Left corners: 11

Right corners: 9

Longest straight: 1.200 m / 0.746 miles

Constructed: 2012

In the second race of 2018, Miguel Oliveira took his first podium of the season -coincidentally at the same place where he did so last year. Third place in Argentina came after a hard-fought race on a mixed surface, which made things tough for the Moto2 field.

The 23-lap contest at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit provided a big challenge for the intermediate class, due to the presence of damp patches around the track. With the entire grid choosing to run slick tyres, Miguel Oliveira got off to good starts: The Portuguese gained four places on the opening corner. 

Miguel Oliveira rode practically the entire race in the podium spots, and led the way both on Lap 13 and with 6 laps to go. However, contact with a rival rider on that same lap dropped him down to third, where he stayed until the chequered flag.

Miguel Oliveira #44

“I think that during today's race I left the door wide open, above all on the final corner, and that caused me to lose positions at times. I knew that the race would be like it was, with many places where overtaking was possible. I felt very strong, I had pace and I had speed, but it was simply that my lines weren't defensive enough. I had a bit of bad luck, I lost time and, when there were three laps to go, Vierge overtook me and I couldn't do much more. With this podium the situation is very positive, we are taking a lot of points home and we have been performing as we habitually do. I'm very happy with this third place”.

Aki Ajo – Team Manager

"In Moto2 the weekend was challenging with the weather. We had a good feeling in dry conditions that made us face a possible race like that with confidence. Yesterday was different; in FP3 we had a good performance in the wet but in the qualifying session we could not improve, and we took positions on the starting grid that were not as good as we would have liked.

Miguel [Oliveira] made a good start and began the race well, competing in the top positions. With the difficult track conditions we had today, we have to be very happy with his third place. (…) This start of the season has not been perfect but we are confident that in the next few races we will be closer to the victory.”

Following the Argentinian GP, Miguel Oliveira is fifth in the overall standings with 27 points. The next round of the Moto2 World Championship season takes place on April 22nd, in Austin, USA.

Results (Race)

1. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 40:37.538

2. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) +0.850

3. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +1.414

4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) +5.178

5. Alex Marquez (Kalex) +5.431 

Moto2 World Championship Standing 2018

1. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 38 points

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 33 points

3. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 32 points

4. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 28 points

5. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 27 points

The rain played a big part in the second Moto2 World Championship qualifying session of the year, held this afternoon at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. Miguel Oliveira had been inside the Top3 for every practice session, but in qualifying he placed seventh. Despite this, Miguel Oliveira is confident that he can fight for the podium in tomorrow's race.

Intermittent light rain during FP3 allowed the Moto2 23 year old rider to try out wet tyres on the track for the first time, on an asphalt that has been partially resurfaced this year. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider was competitive in such conditions, with Oliveira in third position -1:57.880-.

The rain fell again right as Moto2 QP got underway. This meant that Miguel Oliveira hurried to set a good lap time before the asphalt condition worsened. The Portuguese rider achieved his best lap time in the first 15 minutes. In fourth place during most of the session, changes of positions in the final minutes relegated him to seventh -1:57.006-.

Miguel Oliveira #44

"It was a bit of a strange qualifying session, because it wasn't raining at the start -and then it rained only at certain points of the track. To tell the truth, when it was raining more intensely I didn't feel completely comfortable on the bike, and that meant that I couldn't improve my time.

We're starting from seventh, which isn't bad at all, but we'd like to be further forward on the grid. We will have to have some good opening laps and regain as many positions as possible, in order to latch onto the frontrunners".

Tomorrow's race will start at 5:20pm Portuguese local time. Last year, Miguel Oliveira got his first podium in the intermediate class in Argentina.

Results (Qualifying session)

1. Xavi Vierge (Kalex) 1:56.137

2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Kalex) 1:56.408 +0.271

3. Danny Kent (Speed Up) 1:56.536 +0.399

4. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 1:56.591 +0.454

5. Jorge Navarro (Kalex) 1:56.679 +0.542

7. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:57.006 +0.869

The second Grand Prix of the year -and the only round held in South America- got underway this Friday at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 Portuguese rider had a great first day, completing FP1 and FP2 among the fastest on track and having the best pace. Second position for Miguel Oliveira on the combined timesheet allows him to aspire to the podium on Sunday.

Miguel Oliveira came out very strong in the first Free Practice of the weekend. He was permanent fixture at the sharp end of the timesheet. Miguel Oliveira finished the session in second -1:44.631-, less than 3 tenths off the fastest rider.

In the afternoon, the rain made an appearance and made work somewhat more difficult. Before the first drops fell, Miguel Oliveira was in first. However, after a quarter of an hour, the light shower slowed down the pace and prevented the Portuguese rider from improving on his morning times. The rain intensified with 18 minutes to go, forcing him to enter the pits. Finally, Oliveira finished second -1:44.805-, 3 thousandths of a second off the best time of the session.

Miguel Oliveira #44

"Today has been a very productive day. We had a first session in which we were looking at what the new asphalt was like. At the end of the day we were able to put in a lot of laps and we were lucky with the weather, as it didn't rain until the middle of the second session. We were hoping to improve our lap times a little in the afternoon and see what the bike needed to finish defining the setup, but it started to rain. Tomorrow I think that if the weather is good we can have a good qualifying session, in order to begin the race with a chance."

After today's results, expectations for tomorrow's QP are high. The starting grid for Sunday will be decided from 5:30pm portuguese local time.

Results (Combined practice times FP1-FP2)

1. Mattia Pasini (Kalex) 1:44.461

2. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:44.631 +0.170

3. Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) 1:44.736 +0.275

4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 1:44.745 +0.284

5. Alex Marquez (Kalex) 1:44.802 +0.341