Qatar MotoGP: Miguel Oliveira out until 2024: “This was my final lap”

Saturday’s shoulder injury in the Qatar Sprint means Miguel Oliveira won’t ride a MotoGP bike again until February’s Sepang test.
Miguel
Miguel

The RNF Aprilia rider has confirm🅘ed he will miss next weekend’s Valencia finale and the post-race test after suffering a brokꦐen right shoulder blade in the Saturday Sprint.

A similar injurꦫy for Enea Bastianini earlier this year took a ꦦrecovery time of two months.

The opening lap accident occurred when Oliveira hit t💎he back of fellow Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, leaving the Spaniard with a small fracture to his lower leg. Bastianini was also taken down, without injury, while Franco Morbidelli ran wide.

Oliveira’s punishing season thus ends as it began, having been injured when he was hit by Marc Marquez in the Portimao ♎opener.

The five-time MotoGP race winner later dislocated and fractured his left shoulder when he was brought down by Fabio Quartararo’s 🍌bike at Jerez.

In total, accidents, injuries and retirements mean Oliveira only saw 🐲the chequered flag in nine out of wꦏhat will be 20 grands prix this year.

Oliveira has been given a Long Laꦺp penalty to serve, for causing the Saturday a🍬ccident, upon his racing return in 2024.

“It was a race incid💯ent,” Oliveira said of Saturday’s clash. “Unfortunately, a crash with an Aprilia team-mate, which really disappoints me.

“In turn six, I braked a little to✨o late, Aleix probably brak♔ed a little bit too much. Once I saw I was probably going to hit him, I just put the bike up straight to avoid him, but I couldn’t miss his rear wheel.

“Unfortunately, we crashed together, which is disappointing. It was a misjudgement, which ended with both of u🌳s on the ground and both of us injured.

“I have a fractured scapula and don’t really know the exten🦩t of the injury yet. So once I get home I will get a better look into it and see what’s really ahead of me in terms of recovery.

“It lookꦛs like I will not need surgery, but it takes a bit of time. I will unfortunately miss the res🐼t of the season, so this was my final lap.

“I had a littl🦄e bit of everything this season, it was not what I was expecting, but I think ▨this could also build up some more character for next season. Hopefully next year is going to be better.”

"Miguel’s season has come to an unfortunate end,” added team manager W𓆉ilco Zeelenberg. “Anyway, he will be fit for the Sepan𝄹g test next year and in this moment, this is all that matters.”

Aprilia test rider Lorenzo S🧔avadori will replace Oliveira in Valencia.

“With Miguel unable to ride, we have a replacement rider with Lorenzo Savadori where we will also have things to try and test for next season,”💧 Zeelenberg said.

Peter has been in the p🍸addock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuk♛i exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.

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