Miguel Oliveira, the Portuguese motorcycle racer, has returned to competition at Le Mans after missing several Grands Prix due to a shoulder injury, a comeback that Yamaha’s technical director, Massimo Bartolini, describes as crucial for the team’s development. Oliveira’s presence fills a significant gap in the technical feedback needed to advance Yamaha’s M1 bike, drawing from his unique experience with Aprilia and offering diverse insights that the team had been lacking.
Bartolini explained to SPEEDWEEK.com that while riders Jack Miller and Augusto Fernández ride the same type of bike, Oliveira contributes a fresh perspective shaped by his time at Aprilia. This input is essential, as Bartolini highlighted,
“We need indications from different perspectives. Jack [Miller] and Augusto [Fernández] come from the same bike, while Miguel brings with him the Aprilia experience, and that part of the development has been missing.”
In addition to technical feedback, Oliveira’s distinct riding style, especially his tire management on varying circuits, is highly valued. Bartolini noted,
“He has a very unique style, and I was particularly curious to understand how he manages the tires on certain circuits. We’ve been missing that. It’s essential to have a rider like him fully available so that we can benefit from that.”
Although Augusto Fernández has been substituting competently, his relative inexperience means he cannot yet provide the deep insights Oliveira offers.
Bartolini emphasized that Oliveira’s early involvement in Yamaha’s program formed a foundation difficult to replace, stating,
“As a rider, Augusto is still new to this kind of work. Miguel was already part of the basis of our technical program.”
Oliveira’s return is expected to accelerate Yamaha’s motorcycle development, potentially improving their competitive edge as the season continues.
