Miguel Oliveira Admits: Qualifying Disaster and Engine Failure Secret at Aragon GP

Miguel Oliveira endured a frustrating and chaotic weekend at the 2025 Aragon Grand Prix, marked by a problematic qualifying session and unexpected mechanical issues during the sprint race. Despite finishing only 15th, the Portuguese Pramac Yamaha rider found some silver linings in an otherwise turbulent Saturday. He referred to the event as “a disaster” in terms of qualifying, but also highlighted important insights and improvements within his setup.

A Nightmare Qualifying for Oliveira

The troubles for Miguel Oliveira began in Saturday’s qualifying session, which he candidly described as “a disaster.” The root of the problem was a failure to utilize the soft rear tire, a crucial element in achieving fast lap times on most circuits.

“The qualifying was a disaster because I couldn’t use the soft tire in any condition,” Oliveira explained. “So I had to basically try to do the best without crashing with the soft rear.”

That limitation severely hampered his ability to extract maximum performance from the Pramac Yamaha, leaving him buried in the grid and fighting from behind in the sprint race. Qualifying is especially crucial in MotoGP sprint formats, where overtaking opportunities are limited and tire management plays a smaller role.

Tactical Tire Decision Pays Off in Sprint Race

Despite the difficult starting position, Miguel Oliveira and his team made a crucial strategic call: opting for a medium rear tire instead of the soft compound many riders chose. While this decision may have seemed conservative, it turned out to be the correct one for the longer haul.

“I was quite sure I wanted to go for the Sprint with the medium rear tire. It worked out well and, except for the first laps, it just took me a little bit too long to get into the rhythm,” said Oliveira.

As the race wore on, Oliveira began to gain traction—literally and figuratively. Although he struggled in the opening laps, the final third of the race saw an uptick in pace, offering a glimpse of what could have been if not for his starting position.

Late-Race Pace Offers Glimmer of Hope

The closing stages of the sprint race provided some optimism for Oliveira and his team. With the medium tire offering better grip and consistency, he managed to find a rhythm and post competitive lap times.

“The last four or five laps were quite okay,” he noted.

Those laps were arguably the strongest portion of his weekend and gave the Portuguese rider confidence that his team’s base setup could be viable moving forward—provided they can sort out qualifying and mechanical reliability.

Mechanical Gremlins Strike Mid-Race

Just as Oliveira was finding his groove, mechanical issues surfaced, threatening both his safety and performance. A small engine problem led to oil leaking onto the bike, specifically around the footpeg and brake area, creating dangerous conditions.

“I had a little bit of an issue with some engine parts. I got oil all over the right side of my foot,” Oliveira revealed.

This oil leak also caused excessive smoke to emanate from the bike on the straights, raising alarms both visually and in terms of the bike’s handling.

“There was a lot of smoke coming out on the straight, so it was not easy for sure,” he concluded.

Despite these serious obstacles, Oliveira managed to stay upright and finish the race, earning a solitary point for 15th place.

Encouraging Signs Beneath the Chaos

Although the final classification may not reflect it, there were subtle signs that the Pramac Yamaha project is heading in a more competitive direction. Oliveira was cautiously optimistic about the overall progress made with the bike, particularly in race trim.

“For me, today was a positive step forward,” he said, despite acknowledging that the result didn’t match the effort or potential.

The fact that Oliveira could still produce strong laps despite engine troubles, tire strategy setbacks, and poor grid position speaks to a more balanced and adaptable motorcycle underneath him. The key challenge remains maximizing that potential over a full race weekend.

Why Qualifying Remains a Thorn for Oliveira

The inability to use the soft tire in qualifying wasn’t just a bad break—it was a serious competitive disadvantage. With tracks like Aragon favoring high corner speed and acceleration, the soft rear is often essential for grabbing a strong grid position.

Oliveira’s comments indicate a persistent issue with tire compatibility or setup under qualifying conditions:

• Tire temperature window may not have been reached

• Chassis behavior with the soft compound may have been unstable

• Suspension settings possibly not adapted to aggressive one-lap attempts

Until these issues are resolved, Oliveira will continue to face uphill battles during race days, forced to recover from poor starting positions.

Comparing Oliveira’s Struggles to Other Yamaha Riders

While Fabio Quartararo also experienced a frustrating Aragon GP with a race-ending crash and confusing feedback, Oliveira’s mechanical problems were of a different nature. Unlike Quartararo, who was mystified by handling inconsistencies, Miguel Oliveira knew exactly what went wrong: mechanical failure paired with compromised qualifying pace.

That said, both riders share the same root issue—Yamaha’s unpredictable performance curve. From one weekend to the next, the M1 behaves differently, making consistency a rare commodity.

Mechanical Reliability Must Improve

The engine problem that led to oil leakage is concerning not just for safety, but for Yamaha’s engineering credibility. While satellite teams occasionally face reliability issues, it’s uncommon for a rider to describe a scenario where smoke and oil contamination affected their braking ability mid-race.

This raises several red flags:

• Engine durability is in question

• Oil containment systems might be flawed

• Brake safety was compromised, which is a critical concern

Unless these issues are addressed quickly, it could cost Yamaha both points and rider trust as the season progresses.

A Resilient Rider Amid a Challenging Season

One aspect of Miguel Oliveira’s performance that stands out is his mental toughness. Despite setbacks, he’s continued to provide constructive feedback, push through mechanical adversity, and remain engaged with his development path.

He’s also showing himself to be a key asset in helping Yamaha’s satellite program evolve. With his feedback and racecraft, Oliveira could be instrumental in shaping the bike’s future.

Looking Ahead to Mugello

With Mugello up next—a high-speed, power-centric circuit—there will be new challenges. Yamaha has often struggled here due to their engine’s lack of top-end speed compared to Ducati and KTM. But if Oliveira and his team can iron out qualifying issues and avoid mechanical failures, they may still claw into the points.

“We need to carry this momentum into Mugello,” Oliveira’s crew chief commented post-race. “The potential is there, we just need to clean up the execution.”

A good result in Italy would not only boost Oliveira’s morale but also validate the development work Yamaha has done in recent weeks.

Conclusion: Light Through the Smoke for Miguel Oliveira

While the final result at Aragon may seem underwhelming, Miguel Oliveira’s ride told a more complex story. Despite a disastrous qualifying, strategic decisions, resilience under pressure, and late-race pace painted a picture of a rider still very much in the fight.

The oil leak, smoke, and braking difficulties were dramatic setbacks, but the fact that Oliveira finished the race and salvaged a point under such conditions is a testament to his focus and skill. With Mugello looming, Oliveira and the Pramac Yamaha team will aim to put the technical troubles behind them and build upon the small victories achieved during one of the season’s most challenging weekends.