Oliveira continues excellent form at final preseason test in Jerez

Miguel Oliveira joined today the Moto3 grid to start the last IRTA Official pre-season Test in Jerez de la Frontera, where riders and teams will fine tune the machines towards the 2013 MotoGP World Championship. Mahindra Racing’s young Portuguese picked up where he left off in his last visit to the Southern Spanish track and ended the day with the sixth best time.

Without new components on his Mahindra GPM30 to test, but developing instead the package with which he worked late last month on this very track, the youngster from Almada first took fourth spot the initial session, exclusively dedicated to the Moto3 riders. On the last session of the day, held in conjunction with the Moto2 grid, Miguel Oliveira shaved 1.2 seconds off his best time to end the day in sixth with 1.47’940s, some 0.791s from the top – almost the same difference with which he finished the last test in February.

The young Portuguese will be back at work tomorrow for another three session, two in conjunction with the Moto2, and one reserved for the Moto3 riders.

Miguel Oliveira: “The first test day went well. In the first session, at mid-afternoon, we managed the fourth position. We were quite close to the times posted here on our last visit to the circuit. After that we tried to continue the work started in the first practice, but we crashed – fortunately without much harm done. It was due to the set up we have, which isn’t the best. Even so, we improved and finished in sixth. It was very positive.

Now we will try to find solutions to be assessed during the next session and get the best out of the bike to get to Qatar with a margin. Since it will be the first GP of the season, the work here in Jerez is very important, because it will be used in the first races. In fact, there is a new track for the second round, so it would be good to be able to count on the best setup, so that we can get to know the track.

We have lots of work ahead and we want to get as much as possible done at this test. We have no new parts. We are just developing the package we already have and trying to take the best out of the bike and of myself.”

Source: Miguel Oliveira Official Website