MotoGP arrived at Mandalika and Miguel Oliveira was the first rider to write his name in the roll of honour of the Indonesian circuit. The Portuguese rider, who gave KTM its first win of the season after Brad Binder's second place in Losail, is a sort of wet-weather expert.
Miguel therefore proved to be flawless in anything but simple conditions, as a result of the violent downpour that hit the circuit before the start of the race.
“I am very happy with this result - he said - a race in the wet is always difficult to manage. Initially we didn't even know whether to race today or tomorrow, as we were even thinking of postponing the checkout, but in the end I'm thrilled. In some sectors I felt competitive, while in others I had to manage, to avoid risks. I knew Fabio was coming, in fact I avoided crashing in the last three laps and in the end I managed to win ”.
Miguel then went into detail about how complicated the race was.
“Today it took very little to crash, in fact it was a very strange day, because the situation risked changing from one moment to the next. It was difficult to understand the braking points and avoid the trickles of water. In the first laps I tried to follow Jack Miller and understand as much as possible how to go on. Then, after passing him, I started looking for my rhythm, finding confidence. As for Quartararo, if there had been 7 more laps, I don't know how it would have ended. In the end I only thought about how to manage the race, also because there were several very treacherous sections. Turn 1 for example, where Pecco risked ending up on the ground ”.
A win that injects the team with a lot of confidence in view of the rest of the season
"The bike is no different than the 2021 version. We worked a lot on the electronics and the wings, as well as the suspension and rear shock absorber. These small details allow the RC16 to be more competitive, and we try and make the most of the package. However, we are at the beginning and the path is long, as there are still 19 races left. Our goal is to be competitive in all conditions. In Qatar we got a great podium with Brad and now we're going to Argentina "
Finally, a special dedication.
"It's for my daughter, I promised her I'd bring her a trophy back from Indonesia."