Miguel Oliveira and the Average Race at Balaton Park: “Not Bad, But Not Enough”

Miguel Oliveira’s weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix at Balaton Park offered a glimpse of steady performance, but one that ultimately fell short of the top-tier expectations of both the Portuguese rider and his Pramac Yamaha team. After the checkered flag, Oliveira candidly described the race as “not bad, but not enough,” summarizing a performance that was consistent yet ultimately unable to challenge for podium positions.

Pacing Through a Technical Circuit

Balaton Park has quickly proven itself to be a technical and demanding circuit, requiring a balance of precision, rhythm, and tactical acumen. Oliveira’s race reflected these challenges. While he managed to avoid major mistakes and consistently post competitive lap times, the Pramac Yamaha rider struggled to find the extra tenths needed to break into the front-running group.

Oliveira commented on the nature of the track, noting its tight corners, rapid directional changes, and limited opportunities to carry speed. “The track is tricky — not as simple as it looks. It’s always on and off, and that makes it hard to find flow,” he said. These conditions emphasized the importance of bike setup and stability, areas where Oliveira and his team focused heavily before the race.

Mid-Pack Battle and Margins Lost

During the race, Oliveira found himself battling mid-pack competitors, a familiar scenario in 2025 as Pramac Yamaha works to match the pace of factory machines. Despite consistent efforts, Oliveira was unable to gain a decisive advantage over riders like Marco Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez, finishing outside the podium positions.

He acknowledged the small but crucial gaps that prevented him from moving forward: “We were close, but still missing a couple of tenths. That’s all it takes to make the difference in MotoGP. It’s not bad, but it’s not enough to fight at the front.”

Focus on Consistency and Learning

Oliveira’s race may not have yielded a spectacular result, but it demonstrated consistency under challenging conditions. By avoiding crashes and maintaining a solid rhythm, he was able to collect points, keeping his championship campaign alive. The Portuguese rider emphasized the importance of learning from each session to improve racecraft, setup understanding, and strategy for upcoming circuits.

Pramac Yamaha will take note of Oliveira’s feedback, particularly regarding bike behavior through fast changes of direction and overall handling under variable track conditions. These insights are vital as the team seeks to close the gap to the front runners in the 2025 season.

Mental Approach: Staying Positive Amid Challenges

Oliveira’s assessment of the race highlighted his realistic and professional mindset. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, he focused on the positives: maintaining consistent lap times, avoiding errors, and gathering data that could help improve performance in future races.

“The pace wasn’t perfect, but it’s a step forward. We need to continue working on setup and refining the bike for different tracks,” he said. Such a perspective is crucial for riders in mid-tier teams, where incremental gains often define the difference between points and podium contention.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges

The Hungarian GP offered Oliveira both lessons and motivation. The Pramac Yamaha team now has additional data to adjust the bike’s setup for the next rounds, and Oliveira himself can refine his approach to better manage tricky circuits.

While the result at Balaton Park was not groundbreaking, it underscores the ongoing struggle in 2025 to consistently challenge the front-runners. Oliveira’s candid reflections serve as a reminder of the fine margins in MotoGP — where a couple of tenths per lap can separate mid-pack from podium finishers.

Conclusion: A Solid Effort, But Room for Improvement

Miguel Oliveira’s race at the Hungarian GP can best be described as steady but insufficient. By staying consistent, avoiding mistakes, and providing valuable feedback, he reinforced his professionalism and focus. However, finishing outside the top positions highlights the need for continued bike development, strategic refinement, and mental resilience.

As the 2025 season progresses, Oliveira and Pramac Yamaha will aim to turn these steady performances into competitive results, with the ultimate goal of returning to the podium and challenging the leaders. Balaton Park may not have delivered glory this time, but it offered crucial experience and data that could make all the difference in the races to come.