In addition to his motorcycle racing career, Miguel Oliveira is also training to be a dentist. Yesterday, the Portuguese KTM rider pulled the punch in the rain-affected MotoGP class race in Indonesia. After the Grand Prix started an hour late due to a heavy thunderstorm, the 27-year-old celebrated his fourth success in the premier class from seventh on the grid, leaving behind world champion Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha and his compatriot Johann Zarco on a Ducati.
“Actually, I would have needed a windshield wiper, the visibility was so bad,” said Oliveira about the adverse conditions. But he kept track of the race, which was shortened from 27 to 20 laps. He laid the foundation for victory right away on the opening lap when he took the lead towards the end.
He then briefly lost it to Jack Miller (Ducati), but Oliveira was in front again from the fourth lap and didn’t give up the lead until the finish line. It also ended a long dry spell: The 27-year-old had not achieved a top ten result on the factory KTM RC16 since June 2021. “Emotionally it was a rollercoaster ride, it hasn’t been easy in the past few months. I promised my daughter I would bring a trophy, so this is for her,” said Oliveira yesterday. And probably also for the team, which now maintains a brilliant starting position in the World Cup. His eighth-placed teammate Brad Binder is second in the World Championship standings, Oliveira fourth.
Bitter end for Marquez
While Quartararo celebrated his second place like a win, six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez was the big loser. He missed the race because he fell once more while entering and suffered a concussion.
In Moto2, Somkiat Chantra wrote motorsport history on Kalex: He was the first Thai to win a Grand Prix.
On April 3rd we continue in Termas de Rio Hondo (Arg). (free)
Source: Nachrichten
