Miguel Oliveira explains Superpole “issue” that left him last for WorldSBK debut

BMW rider Miguel Oliveira went from last to eighth in his debut WorldSBK race, the Portuguese rider having to start from the back of the grid after not setting a time in Superpole.

Oliveira crashed at turn two on his first flying lap of the Superpole session at the Australian World Superbike round. He was able to get the bike back to the pits, but an electronic issue prevented it from restarting after repairs had been made, leaving the Portuguese rider last on the grid for Race 1 without a time set in Superpole.

“It was hard, for sure,” Miguel Oliveira told WorldSBK.com after Race 1.

“A shame to crash in the first lap in the qualifying because that probably cost me a better result the whole weekend. 

“Just pushed a little bit more on the front and crashed. Picked up the bike, tried to go out again, but a small electronic issue didn’t allow me to restart the bike, so that was it for me.

“Had a long afternoon in front, so I decided just to take the maximum I could; try to make clean passes, go through the field, try to see my pace as well, try to learn the bike over the laps. Positive feedback, good information for the future and we build up from here and see what tomorrow has to bring.”

The second half of Oliveira’s race was largely spent battling his teammate Danilo Petrucci as they both tried to secure top-10 positions.

In the end, Oliveira took eighth while Petrucci finished 10th, the Portuguese rider saying he was able to pick up some things from Petrucci while riding with him.

“It was fun,” he said. “I had some strong points, for sure, and I tried to take advantage of them during the race, also could learn a few things: where he was faster, where he was using better the bike. 

“All in all, it’s just learning for me, and also learnt behind the other guys, for sure. Need to now process everything and try to use it tomorrow.”

Oliveira must get from 21st to the top-nine in tomorrow’s Superpole in order to improve his grid position for Race 2.

“In 10 laps it will be hard to be inside the top-nine,” he admitted.

“But it’s a short race, anything could happen, people are going to have a faster pace for sure. 

“Just I need to be there for the mistakes, but also I need to be fast and make some more aggressive overtakes tomorrow, for sure, if I want to have a place in the top-nine.”