Miguel Oliveira has faced many injuries in recent times. This year, in Argentina, he had suffered a sterno-clavicular dislocation that kept him sidelined for three Grands Prix until his return to Le Mans. The Pramac team rider talked about the difficult time in an interview organized by his sponsor Estrella Galicia 0,0. You can watch the video above and read about it below.
In Le Mans, you achieved your goal of completing the Sprint race as your first real contact with competition after the injury. How did you feel physically? What are the key factors in staying motivated and inspired in such a demanding and tough sport as motorcycle racing?
“I noticed some weaknesses, especially when it came to turning the bike into left-hand corners, which was the injured side. But honestly, just getting back on the bike and racing that weekend already felt like a victory after so long away. It was a huge psychological boost—an incredible surge of energy to be back doing what I love: racing. During the time I spent at home, there were moments when the recovery slowed down a bit. It’s not that you lose motivation—because that never really happens—but your energy does dip. You tend to think more negatively, and those are the toughest moments. Fortunately, you bounce back quickly, and my inner circle also plays a big role in that.”
Did you consider coming back earlier, in Jerez? Did Martín’s crash in Qatar maybe make you rethink your decision?
“I had thought about coming back earlier, but I simply didn’t do it because of physical limitations—not because Martín may have come back too soon. That said, what happened to Martín did make me take a more cautious approach to returning at Le Mans, always making solid progress. I didn’t try to do more than my body allowed, so that frustration wouldn’t get in my way. Seeing what Martín went through from the outside helped me, no doubt about it.”
For example, even Marc Márquez sent him a message about taking his time to recover…
“Yes, it’s easy to say that from the outside, but I can’t really imagine it—because I’ve never been in his position, as a world champion with the number one on the front of the bike, being the reference rider. Being in that spot naturally makes you want to speed things up, but you can’t skip steps. If you try, there are some chances of hitting some rough patches along the way. From my own experience coming back from injuries, what I’ve learned is that you simply can’t try to skip any part of the process.”
What went through your mind when you found yourself running in second place at Le Mans? And what does it mean to you to be fighting at the front again?
"It was a surprise because I wasn’t really checking my position, but I realized I was in second when Marc overtook me. That’s when it clicked—I understood I was running second. So, I started doing the math and thought, ‘maybe I’ve got a good chance to score points’. But in such tough conditions, with so little grip, it was hard just to make it to the finish.”
This year you switched teams and joined Yamaha. How has the adaptation process been so far? Do you notice big differences compared to your previous experience? And what stands out to you the most about this new chapter?
“I’m very, very motivated. Honestly, from the very first test last year in Barcelona, I realized I was joining a really great team on a human level. The way everything is organized is just incredible, and it becomes clear very quickly why they’ve been world champions. They’ve built a top-level team—people really make the difference—and that’s why they’ve achieved such great results in recent years.What they’re trying to build with Yamaha is solid and highly ambitious. You can also see that Yamaha is fully committed, and that gives a rider a huge sense of motivation and excitement about what lies ahead. Right now, we know the bike isn’t quite ready to deliver the results we’re aiming for, but we’re on an upward path. We’re highly motivated and really excited about this project going forward.”
Next up is Silverstone. What are your expectations for that race? And how are you approaching the rest of the calendar—especially now that Portimão will close the season?
“What excites me the most right now is being able to race again and pick up where I left off in terms of progress with the bike and the team. Coming back after the injury feels a bit like starting from scratch, so heading to Silverstone now is one more step in the right direction—feeling physically strong and becoming more and more connected with the team.That’s what I’m hoping for this season: to keep closing the gap and scoring points. Finishing in the top ten would be a great result right now, especially on Sunday’s race. I think I’ll arrive in Portimão in the best shape possible, since it’s the penultimate Grand Prix of the season. By then I should be much more in tune with the bike and the setup. Reaching that point in the championship and having a home Grand Prix is a huge joy. As always, I hope to perform well in front of my fans and put on a great show.”
Speaking of Portimão, what does it mean to you to race at home? How do you see the role of the Portuguese fans?
“Honestly, I feel very lucky to be Portuguese. From the outside, it might seem like a disadvantage—not coming from a strong motorcycle racing culture, having a harder path to get here, and so on. But right now, being that Portuguese rider people see racing on Sundays, whether they’re at home, in restaurants, at the beach—having that support behind me is incredibly motivating. Sometimes it’s hard to really see how much people support you, because you’re always travelling around the world, busy with the team, with your family, training… You’re constantly on the move and don’t often get the chance to stop and notice who’s standing by your side. But during this injury break, I realized just how much support I have, and that’s given me a huge boost—not just to do well for myself, but also for them. They deserve it.”
How do you see the future of young talent in Portugal? Do you feel a special sense of responsibility as a role model?
“I’d love to say we have a strong pool of young talent and that there’s a real chance for a Portuguese rider to make it to an international championship—but the truth is, we’re still a bit behind. I do see myself as a reference, but times are changing, and what young riders need today is very different from what I needed when I was in that same stage. It’s been 15 years since I made it to the World Championship. These days, kids are looking for new pathways to get to the world stage. I see a lot of potential to succeed, but right now, we’re still struggling to find that next Portuguese rider.”