Miguel Oliveira ready to return to the saddle of a “very different” Yamaha

Declared fit by the doctors of the MotoGPMiguel Oliveira will be back on his Pramac Yamaha YZR-M1 this Friday during free practice for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans. Ready to get back into the fray, the Portuguese rider has made no secret of his feelings ahead of his long-awaited return. After nearly two months without riding due to a left collarbone injury, Oliveira almost feels like he's back at pre-season testing, which is usually held in much warmer climates than La Sarthe!

“The doctors told me I'm fit! I'm really looking forward to getting back on the bike after almost two months without riding. It's almost strange to be here because it's not pre-season, but I almost feel like it is for me. I feel good, the only thing I've really missed is riding a bike, I haven't had the opportunity. I'm fit, there's obviously a bit of discomfort, but for the rest, everything's fine. I'm sure I'll be at the start on Sunday unless something happens, touch wood!”

A different yet similar motorcycle

With Yamaha being one of the brands with the most dealerships, due to its poor 2024 season, Miguel Oliveira knows he won't be riding the same bike as in Argentina. This is a good thing for the #88 rider, who knows he'll have an advanced machine at every level. This is reason to be cautious before the first tests this Friday, even if the Pramac team will make sure to offer him a bike that won't differ too much initially in terms of feel.

“The bike is very different from the one I rode last time. We've changed the chassis, the engine, and a few other settings on the suspension and shock absorbers. Geometry-wise, we'll try to start with something similar to what I rode in Argentina. The bike is very different, but it's actually mostly improved, so I don't expect to have a very different feeling on Friday.”

Recent performances of fabio quartararo (second in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez) obviously gave the only Portuguese Grand Prix winner in the premier class a boost. The Yamahas show great ability depending on the weekend, and there's no reason for that to change at Le Mans: “It was incredible. We know Fabio is fast in Jerez, but he showed the full extent of his talent. It was really good. The other Yamahas were fast too, Jack Miller for example, even if he couldn't put everything together for a lap. Álex (Rins. Ed.) had to get back into the rhythm after his crash in the morning, it's difficult. And Augusto (Fernández. Ed.), he did what he had to do! It was a good weekend for Yamaha.”

ALSO READ > Zarco ambitious before the French GP: "I have the possibility of aiming for the podium"