Oliveira again best non-KTM rider in Austin: “It’s the most technical track I’ve ever ridden”

Miguel Oliveira was one of the outstanding riders this Friday at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) debut in the 2013 MotoGP World Championship. The Portuguese youngster posted the fourth best time (2.19’606s) after having led the first free practice and riding in second during the afternoon outing.

With no prior knowledge of the track, just like all the other Moto3 riders, Mahindra Racing’s Oliveira has however shown a quick adaptation to the technical and demanding layout, in the first of the two visits to the US for the lower classes. Even so, the youngster from Almada did not have an easy task, with FP1 turning out to be the hardest of the two held today.

Miguel Oliveira: “Practices went quite well. The first practice was very complicated, not only because it’s a new track, but also because it was quite dirty and with almost no rubber laid; it’s been a month without cars or bikes running here. It is a very technical track, the most technical in all my career, very demanding, very long; it wasn’t an easy session.

We managed to improve our lap time a lot in FP2, which is normal, because by then we had a better knowledge of the circuit. We also found some problems with the front end of the bike; we didn’t manage to feel comfortable or do the lines we wanted in the first sector which is very fluid at the esses.

But I am very happy, once again we are the first non-KTM, even though quite far away from the top, but all in all the team is happy. It was a positive first day and we are ready to get back to work tomorrow and sort out the problem we’ve found.”

Source: Miguel Oliveira Official Website