Miguel Oliveira looked set to achieve his best result of the season at the Le Mans MotoGP race, showcasing a strong comeback after missing three rounds due to a shoulder injury, but his race ended in disappointment following a crash at the final corner, just eight laps before the chequered flag. Starting on wet tyres in tricky conditions, Oliveira climbed as high as second place, demonstrating skill and strategic awareness, before succumbing to the same challenging corner that had already taken down factory star Fabio Quartararo and team-mate Jack Miller.
From the outset, Oliveira’s choice to begin on wet tyres proved advantageous amid a chaotic race filled with bike swaps, penalties, and multiple incidents. His resilience and tactical decision-making allowed him to briefly hold second position behind eventual winner Johann Zarco. Despite his determination, Oliveira was eventually overtaken by the Marquez brothers, Pedro Acosta, Maverick Vinales, and Fermin Aldeguer, dropping to seventh place. This position would still have significantly surpassed his previous best finish of 14th this season.
Reflecting on the crash, Oliveira expressed his frustration:
He explained the unpredictable weather conditions, saying,
Oliveira described the challenges faced as the rain increased, stating,
Alex Rins, who also took a similar strategic approach by starting on wets before switching bikes twice in response to changing conditions, was the only Yamaha rider to finish, crossing the line in 12th place. Pramac team director Gino Borsoi acknowledged the complexity of the race’s conditions and Oliveira’s performance:
Borsoi continued to praise Oliveira’s efforts despite the outcome, noting,
Miguel Oliveira’s MotoGP Le Mans comeback crash highlights the intense unpredictability of the sport, especially under changing weather conditions, and underscores the resilience required by riders recovering from injury. While the crash prevented Oliveira from scoring valuable points, his performance demonstrated promise for upcoming races as he regains full fitness and continues to battle at the front of the grid.
