Miguel Oliveira’s WorldSBK debut began with less progress than he had hoped during the opening practice sessions in Australia. Transitioning from MotoGP, where he secured five wins, Oliveira joined BMW this season, taking over from Michael van der Mark, who delivered two victories over five years with the team. Despite a promising preseason test at Phillip Island where Oliveira outpaced teammate Danilo Petrucci, the opening day of the Australian race weekend left him somewhat disappointed.
Mixed Feelings After Opening Practice Runs
Reflecting on Friday’s sessions, Oliveira described the day as “not good, not bad,” noting he expected more improvement. The rider explained that while the team aided in adjusting the bike’s electronics, helping him feel more comfortable, issues with the rear tyre prevented any significant gains. He added that a simulated short Superpole Race failed to reveal further performance potential from the tyres.
We need some homework this afternoon and come back stronger tomorrow.
? Miguel Oliveira, Rider
Although Oliveira felt better with the bike during the second practice session, his lap times actually dropped compared to the morning. He attributed this to grip balance problems and emphasized the need to analyze the data thoroughly before the next round of practice.
I felt more comfortable with the bike in FP2, but I was faster in FP1,
he said.
That means probably there was something not really working well with the grip balance of the bike this afternoon and we need to check that in the data and come up with a solution for tomorrow FP3 before qualifying.
? Miguel Oliveira, Rider
Oliveira’s Aspirations Amid Uncertain Conditions
Despite the lack of expected progress on Friday, Oliveira remains cautiously optimistic about his potential throughout the race weekend. He set a realistic goal of finishing in the top five but admitted that achieving better results will be challenging. Changing weather conditions forecasted for Sunday add an extra layer of uncertainty about how the bike will perform.
I think the realistic target would be a top-five,
Oliveira stated.
Let’s see if we can achieve more than that but at the moment it looks very difficult. Also, the conditions seem to be changing for Sunday, so it will be interesting also how we react to that and how the bike behaves.
But, all in all, I feel good, feel relaxed, and I think we have a chance tomorrow to do a good job.
? Miguel Oliveira, Rider
Looking Ahead to Practice and Qualifying
Miguel Oliveira and the BMW team will focus on reviewing the latest data to address grip balance and tyre performance issues before Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions. Success in these areas will be crucial for improving lap times and positioning Oliveira competitively for his WorldSBK debut race at Phillip Island. The outcome of these adjustments could influence the trajectory of Oliveira’s rookie season with the BMW team in this new championship environment.
