Before closing this 2024 chapter of MotoGP, Miguel Oliveira will ride his Aprilia Trackhouse for the last time of the year. Victim of a nasty fall on the Mandalika circuit, in Indonesia, last September, due to a technical problem on his motorcycle, the native of Almada fractured his right wrist. Therefore causing hospitalization, he was operated on before undergoing long rehabilitation. But one week before the Barcelona Grand Prix, the final round, the Portuguese announced his return to competition.
At the end of this last race, the latter will be riding his new mount, the Pramac Yamaha. However, this absence of a month and a half left questions about his state of health. During media day, Miguel Oliveira expressed his doubts about his physical abilities. He explained that he was waiting for the first driving sessions before establishing an initial assessment.
Miguel Oliveira, fit to drive?
“I'm happy to be back. Physically, I would say I'm at a good 90% but until you get on the bike you can't be sure. I'm doing relatively well. It was difficult. I found out late that it could be even trickier because I didn't break any bones in my hand. It was a compression fracture and it caused some damage to the ulna and cartilage. It wasn't easy to have a good recovery without pain, but the tolerance is much higher now so that's why I said 'Let's try and see where we are'.
Like I said, until you get on a MotoGP, you can't really say [si on est apte]. I haven't ridden this last month, so I'm not in optimal shape to do the weekend. When you're in good shape, it's difficult, so when you're injured, it's even more difficult! I don't know what I can expect from Tuesday's test because it's only one day. I'm really excited for the future, but also for the weekend. I hope to be fit enough to ride in all the sessions and races, just to get the feeling and the speed back.”
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In Brief
Absent for almost a month and a half, due to a heavy fall in Indonesia, Trackhouse driver Miguel Oliveira is back for the last GP of the season, in Barcelona. But upon arriving in Catalunya, the Portuguese confided his doubts about his state of health.
