Miguel Oliveira Aims for a Breakthrough at Catalunya with Aprilia: High Hopes for a Memorable MotoGP Weekend

Miguel Oliveira feels 'truly optimistic' and aims for an unforgettable weekend with Aprilia

Miguel Oliveira stated, "I have fond recollections of competing with Aprilia here last year, and I'm hopeful that this season will bring even more remarkable moments."

Catalunya stood out as one of the highlight weekends for Miguel Oliveira during the 2023 MotoGP campaign.

The previous Barcelona champion, representing KTM, secured a front-row position in qualifying with his Aprilia from last year and finished the races in sixth and fifth places, races that were won by the team's lead racer, Aleix Espargaro.

Now competing on the newest 2024 model of the RS-GP, racing for Team Trackhouse, the racer from Portugal has achieved a season-best finish of eighth place to date.

Espargaro and Maverick Vinales have successfully tapped into the velocity of the RS-GP24, however, Oliveira is still finding his footing with the highly aerodynamic bike.

However, his previous performance and Aprilia's history at Barcelona suggest that this weekend could present an excellent opportunity for a standout performance.

"Visiting Barcelona is always a pleasure. The circuit holds a special place in my heart as it's intertwined with my initial racing experiences – Barcelona has been a consistent location in my racing career," Oliveira remarked.

"Last year, I created wonderful memories with Aprilia, and I'm hopeful that this season, we can create even better ones."

"The circuit is highly technical in nature, requiring keen focus on the initial chicane where significant time can be lost. Following that, there's a speedy stretch leading into the twin right-hand turns towards the end of the lap."

"Given the track's low grip levels, maintaining tyre performance is crucial for staying competitive until the Grand Prix concludes."

"I feel very optimistic about Barcelona."

Catalonia serves as the second of four Spanish home races for Raul Fernandez's teammate, who is now competing on the 2023 model bike that was previously ridden to a spectacular first and second place by Espargaro and Maverick Vinales last year.

"Fernandez expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to participate in four Grand Prix events in Spain, highlighting the significance of this particular race for Aprilia due to their outstanding 1-2 finish in the previous year. He shared his excitement about competing at a circuit where their motorcycle has historically performed exceptionally well, especially considering his top finish of the season has been tenth."

"Truthfully, I'm thrilled about heading there following our recent advancements in Le Mans. I'm content with how things are presently, and I'm looking forward to having a great time at the Barcelona race weekend, as I believe our teamwork is truly effective."

Team leader Wilco Zeelenberg remarked, "Reflecting on our accomplishments from the previous year, it prompts curiosity about our capabilities and what we might accomplish this year, particularly given our recent successes in a few races."

"Despite Miguel not completing the final race in France, our speed has been steady, and we're aiming to progress – Barcelona seems like the perfect location for this."

Aleix's victory last year was outstanding and demonstrated a solid performance, while Miguel's performance in Barcelona the previous year was also impressive.

"Raul is competing on his native Spanish turf, which should give him an added boost of motivation. We're quite eager to observe how both competitors perform throughout the week."

Similar to their peers, Oliveira and Fernandez have not yet secured their spots for the 2025 season.

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