Miguel Oliveira, who joined the RNF team in 2023 as part of Aprilia’s first satellite partnership in MotoGP, has had seasons well below expectations. The team, renamed TrackHouse Racing this year, failed to deliver the results hoped for, despite having access to a bike identical to that of the Aprilia factory team. In an interview with MOW Mag, Oliveira shared his thoughts on what went wrong in his collaboration with the Italian manufacturer.
According to the Portuguese driver, it is difficult to identify a single element responsible for the poor performance: “ it is not easy to point to a reason, it is difficult to attribute everything to a single component. I joined Aprilia with high expectationsbecause my goal was to perform well and then move to the factory team. » However, #88 admits that the structure ofAprilia was not ready to supply motorcycles to a customer team for the first time.
The transition to the news RS-GP and changes in tire construction have also created additional challenges. Oliveira explain : ”
the transition to motorbikes was very significant, also because in the meantime, there has been a change in the tire casing. Combining all these factors, the results were not the best. » Despite efforts to adapt, he never really found the support he hoped for within the structure.
Miguel Oliveira: « my goal has always been to have the same hardware as the factory drivers »
Miguel Oliveira is clear about its initial objective: to be on an equal footing with Aprilia factory riders, Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Viñales. Yet he admits that this never materialized: “ my goal has always been to have the same hardware as the factory drivers. […] I have never been Aprilia’s priority. That’s the problem, but I understand. »
Ultimately, the lack of investment and attention from the factory left Oliveira in difficulty, relegated to second place in an environment where the results ofEspargaro et Vinales
were taking over.
While Miguel Oliveira continues its season with
TrackHouse Racingit is clear that his collaboration with
Aprilia has not taken on the magnitude hoped for, a situation which he recognizes lucidly.
