‘Connection with the bike’ is back - Oliveira, believes big result is possible

After several tough races, Miguel Oliveira feels he’s back in contention for a top MotoGP result in Portimao. 

While the Portuguese rider failed to get the result his pace probably deserved at Misano due to a late crash, the KTM rider has regained ‘connection to the bike’ ahead of his second home round of 2021. 

After thoroughly dominating the Portimao MotoGP a year ago, Oliveira was unable to replicate the same type of performance back in April as he once again crashed out.

But after making steps forward since Austin, Oliveira has a different mentality to that of earlier in the campaign. 

"For sure we arrive at the home GP with a different kind of mentality. Beginning of the season we were having too many problems, the package was not really complete and the conditions were much different to what we had in November the previous season," added Oliveira. 

"We didn’t have anything going our way, and even though I didn’t finish in Misano I had the connection back with the bike. 

"Already in Texas I found a little bit more of this connection and although the result is not there, the feeling is there. 

"Now the key is to start tomorrow with this feeling and finish these last two races on a high."

While a victory might be a stretch too far this weekend, the 26 year-old believes ‘we can achieve a good result’.  

Oliveira said: "Yes I believe so. I think we have every reason to believe that we can achieve a good result. 

"Of course, it’s always depending on a lot of things, but we know that the intention is there. 

"The opponents are going to be tough, everyone likes this track so it will be about adapting better than anyone on track."