Bos Tech 3 Sebut Kemenangan Miguel Oliveira Seperti Dongeng

Miguel Oliveira menutup kisahnya di Tech 3 KTM dengan kemenangan sensasional di MotoGP Portugal yang dianggap seperti dongeng oleh bos tim, Herve Poncharal.
Herve Poncharal Miguel Oliveira MotoGP race, Portuguese MotoGP. 22 November 2020
Herve Poncharal Miguel Oliveira MotoGP race, Portuguese MotoGP. 22 November 2020
© Gold and Goose Photography

After snatching his and Tech3's first MotoGP victory on the exit of the last corner in Spielberg, Miguel Oliveira's second and final win for the team couldn't have come under more different circu꧃mstances.

Oliveira qualified on a home pole position for Sunday's inaugur🍒al Portimao grand prix, then led for every single lap, finishing with a final victory margin of 3.1s over Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) after backing off♓ in the closing laps.

It wasn't just the perfect way to end the season, bu🌃t also Oliveira's Tech3 career, before moving to the official factory KTM team in 2021.

“Honestly, I am speechless," said team boss Herve Poncharal. "We knew this weekend was going to be special, a special circuit, great weather a🐲nd great people to welcome us in Portugal. But we also knew there would be some pres𒆙sure and we were just hoping that everything was going to work out well.

"When we made the pole, I thought ‘Wow, we achieved something great’ and this is 50% of the weekend done, but I kn🅷ew that the biggest part was ahead of us on Sunday. I didn’t sleep well last night, because I knew the expectations were big and I knew there was a possibility of a great result.

"All the Red Bull and KTM top management were here 🍌and I knew how important this race was for Miguel, so I was ve🅠ry tense until the MotoGP race started and once it started, it was like a fairytale.

"We didn’t expect Miguel to break away the way he did and to open such a gap in🎉 just a few laps. [Then] it was just counting down the laps and hoping for no mistake, because nothing is ever done until you see the chequered flag.

"But I’ve been impressed by how cool, calm and I would say ‘zen’ Miguel has been all weekend long. He is really a great guy, a great champion, because to 🌠cope with the pressure the way he did, means you have a lot to still demonstrat🏅e.

"This victory was the 𒁏second one of the year, the second one with Miguel of course, and the second one with KTM, but maybe that one is even stronger in t🌱erms of how dominant Miguel has been.

"It was a demonstration of Miguel together with the KTM RC16 and I’m just in heaven… As I told the KTM Factory guys, he is ready, ⛄he is 'hot', so now you cꦰan receive a top MotoGP rider for the next two seasons."

After the race, Tech3 announced that Oliveira's victory was also Guy Coulon's last race🐻 as crew chief:

Danilo Petrucci will take over Oliveira's seat alongside Iker Lecuona next season, the Spaniard missing the last three rou🎉nds due to Covid restrictions and being replaced by KTM test rider Mika Kallio in Portimao.

"We’ve been missing Iker a lot, but still we had the great pleasure – and&n💧bsp;honour - to have Mika Kallio coming to replace Iker," Poncharal said.

"It was not easy. He didn’t have any time on the bike almost [this year], he didn’t know the ci🙈rcuit. The whole grid is riding every week, so it was very difficult.

"But he did a perfect weekend, not one crash, improving his lap time nಌearly every session and finally a decent result [17th out of 18]. So, I would like to thank him and congratulate him."

Poncharal concluded: "It was a long season, a tough season, but we are already thinkin🌳g in a few days we’ll be a bit bored and we are really wishing to be back on the tracks as soon as ܫpossible!”

Covid restrictions permitting, the 2021 MotoGP season is scheduled to begi🅷n with a pre-season test at Sepang in February.

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