Published: 28 Aug 2024
Miguel Oliveira in Advanced Talks with 'Very Promising MotoGP Project'
After not extending his contract with Trackhouse Racing, Miguel Oliveira is in advanced talks with a “very promising [MotoGP] project”.
Yamaha’s MotoGP project is undergoing significant changes as the team works to return to the top after a prolonged winless streak that has lasted since June 19, 2022.
In an effort to regain their former strength, Yamaha secured a new satellite team for 2025 – Pramac Racing, which will be leaving Ducati to become the Japanese manufacturer’s first satellite team in two years.
The decision of who will ride for Pramac in the upcoming season has been a topic of much speculation. Initially, Team Founder Paolo Campinoti expressed a desire to sign two established MotoGP riders.
At one point, Yamaha star Fabio Quartararo even suggested pairing Fabio Di Giannantonio with a Moto2 rookie at Pramac. However, this plan did not materialize.
Instead, Pramac is now in advanced talks with seasoned riders Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller, marking a shift in strategy. The change in direction stems from the urgency Yamaha faces to improve the M1 quickly.
“We don’t have time; we need to get better fast. Experienced riders can make that happen more quickly,” explained Quartararo during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend in Spielberg.
The decision against signing a Moto2 rookie was reinforced by Di Giannantonio’s own choice to decline a move to Pramac and stay with VR46 and Ducati for another two years.
Quartararo acknowledged that while a young rider could be valuable for the future, the immediate need for experienced pilots like Oliveira and Miller outweighed the potential long-term benefits of a MotoGP rookie.
Miguel Oliveira, who has been linked with Pramac-Yamaha, is eager to embrace this new opportunity. The Portuguese is set to part ways with Trackhouse Racing by 2025 following the team’s signing of Ai Ogura in early August.
Oliveira’s departure was mutual, as he explained that Trackhouse chose to focus on bringing in younger talent from Moto2.
“When they told me they wanted to sign a young rider, everything became clear for me,” Oliveira stated. Despite a challenging and injury-ridden season with Trackhouse, Oliveira is optimistic about his future with Pramac-Yamaha.
The Portuguese sees Pramac as a fresh start and a highly appealing project. “It’s a very promising project,” remarked the five-time MotoGP race winner. He is confident that Yamaha’s forward-looking approach will soon yield positive results.
Although the factory team struggled during the Austrian GP weekend, leaving Spielberg empty-handed, Oliveira believes that Yamaha is close to turning their MotoGP project around.
“Having a strong satellite team is the missing piece of the puzzle. With four identical bikes, they can gather more data and information, accelerating the development process and achieving the desired results sooner.”
