The first day of the MotoGP Argentina GP was really tough for Miguel Oliveira, who finished in 18th place in both Friday sessions.

The first day of MotoGP Argentina GP proved to be a tough challenge for Miguel Oliveira, as he finished in 18th place in both of Friday’s practice sessions. This result means that the Prima Pramac Yamaha rider will have to go through Q1 on Saturday, facing an uphill battle to secure a competitive grid position.

Miguel Oliveira Admits to Costly Mistake

The Portuguese rider acknowledged that a mistake on his part impacted his performance. “The afternoon session was a bit difficult, especially during the two time attacks. I expected to improve a little on the second tire, but I got stuck behind Enea Bastianini for the last two laps. That was my mistake. So, let’s see. We certainly have some things to analyze tomorrow to improve the bike,” Oliveira admitted.

With the presence of Álex Rins, who demonstrated strong pace, Oliveira remains hopeful that his team can gather valuable insights from other Yamaha riders to refine their approach. “We have Álex [Rins], who is quite fast. So, we hope to evaluate what we can do,” he added.

Challenges in Time Attacks and Setup Adjustments

One of the major hurdles for Oliveira has been optimizing his bike’s setup for time attacks. He explained, “Right now, the biggest difficulty is when we have a time attack, and at the moment, it seems like we need a different approach to the setup when using new tires. Maybe using the medium rear tire or adapting to lower grip conditions will bring us closer. But for now, we are still too far off with this setup. So, we have some work to do for Saturday morning.”

Despite the struggles, Oliveira remains composed, viewing the Argentina GP as a learning experience. “There’s nothing to worry or stress about. As we said before, this is actually the first weekend where we can assess whether our base setup is truly useful or if we need to make more significant changes. So far, we haven’t changed much, so perhaps we need to make some adjustments.”

Yamaha’s Performance and the Road Ahead

The Prima Pramac Yamaha team has shown flashes of potential, but their ability to adapt to different track conditions remains a concern. With Oliveira struggling in both sessions, it is evident that more work needs to be done to extract the best performance from the YZR-M1.

Heading into Saturday, Oliveira and his team will focus on fine-tuning their setup to maximize the bike’s potential in Q1. If they manage to find the right balance, there is still hope for a stronger qualifying performance. However, with fierce competition from riders like Franco Morbidelli, Jack Miller, and Johann Zarco, the battle for a Q2 spot will be highly challenging.

Breaking Down Oliveira’s Struggles in Detail

Lack of Grip and Tire Issues

One of the recurring problems for Miguel Oliveira in the Argentina GP practice sessions was the lack of grip. Whether it was the bike setup or the tire compound choice, he struggled to generate enough traction to push for a competitive lap time. The soft tire that many riders were able to extract pace from did not seem to work in Oliveira’s favor, forcing him to experiment with different configurations.

If Oliveira wants to make it out of Q1, he and his team must find a way to improve the bike’s behavior on fresh tires. The medium rear tire could be a potential solution, as he hinted in his post-session comments. However, with only a short amount of time before qualifying, finding the right balance will be crucial.

Struggles with the Base Setup

Unlike some of his rivals who have found a solid base setup for their bikes early in the season, Oliveira and his Yamaha team are still fine-tuning the YZR-M1. The inability to make major improvements between the two Friday sessions suggests that the base setup may not be working as expected.

However, Oliveira remains optimistic that with a deeper analysis of data and feedback from teammates like Álex Rins, his team can make the necessary changes. The key will be adjusting the electronics and suspension settings to ensure better performance over a single lap, something he struggled with in both FP1 and FP2.

Comparisons with Other Yamaha Riders

The Prima Pramac Yamaha team is facing an uphill battle, but there is hope. While Miguel Oliveira finished in 18th, Álex Rins showed promising speed. This means that the YZR-M1 has potential, but it may require a different riding style or setup adjustments that Oliveira has yet to find.

By analyzing Rins’ data, Oliveira and his engineers could gain valuable insights into areas where they are losing time. Whether it’s a braking issue, corner entry, or acceleration out of slow turns, identifying these problems early could help him improve in Q1.

What’s Next for Miguel Oliveira?

Saturday’s Q1 Session – A Must-Win Battle

For Miguel Oliveira, the main focus now shifts to Q1. If he wants to fight for a decent grid position in the Argentina GP, he must finish in the top two in Q1 to advance to Q2. This will be a significant challenge, considering the competitive nature of the field and the presence of other strong riders who also missed direct Q2 entry.

The team’s strategy for Saturday will likely revolve around optimizing tire choice, making last-minute setup changes, and working on Oliveira’s race pace. If they can find improvements in the morning session, there is still a chance he could qualify well for the race.

Race Day Expectations

Even if Oliveira struggles in Q1, the Argentina GP still presents an opportunity for him to gain positions in the race. His strength in long-run pace means that if he can avoid trouble on the opening laps, he could make up ground and fight for points.

The key factor will be how much progress his team can make in the short window before qualifying. If they can fine-tune the bike to give him more grip and confidence, Oliveira may still salvage a decent result from what has so far been a difficult weekend.

Final Thoughts

The opening day of the Argentina GP was far from ideal for Miguel Oliveira, but the weekend is far from over. With smart adjustments and a strong performance in Q1, he still has a chance to turn things around. His ability to adapt and learn from his struggles will be tested in the upcoming sessions.

As MotoGP fans await the next chapter in this thrilling race weekend, all eyes will be on Oliveira to see if he can overcome his difficulties and secure a competitive result. The upcoming qualifying sessions will be crucial, and his performance on Saturday will determine whether he can fight for a strong position on race day.

Will Miguel Oliveira find the pace he needs, or will his struggles continue? The answers will unfold in the high-stakes Q1 battle at Termas de Rio Hondo.