The Almada rider secured direct qualification for the second qualifying round (Q2) at the Aragon Grand Prix today, taking tenth place during timed practice.
The day began with promising signs. Miguel Oliveira was seventh fastest in the morning's free practice session. The afternoon brought additional difficulties, with the rider feeling less comfortable on the bike: “It was a bit of a strange session, perhaps one of the most difficult I've been on the bike, but the team reacted well and we made some modifications which, although not perfect, allowed me to secure a place in the top 10.”
Despite facing difficulties with the setup of the Aprilia RS-GP24, especially after the experience in Spielberg, the Almada rider once again showed his ability to adapt. “We kept some ideas from Spielberg, but maybe we need to go back to our normal setup. Despite everything, we were able to identify areas for improvement.”
After testing various tire combinations throughout the race, Miguel Oliveira opted for a used soft tire at the front and a new one at the rear in the final moments of the session, which ended up bringing significant improvements to the rider's performance.
This direct qualification for Q2 not only saves work on Saturday morning, but also allows the rider to fight for a place on the front rows of the starting grid. “I'm happy to have a clear direction for tomorrow and that we managed to secure a place in Q2, which is always an important goal,” concluded Miguel Oliveira.
Listen to Miguel Oliveira's full statements after the first day of the Aragon GP here:
