Miguel Oliveira will graduate to MotoGP in 2019 after signing a new deal with the Tech 3 squad.
The 23-year-old Portuguese racer will be the first rider that will go through the entire Red Bull KTM system.
From Red Bull Rookies Cup all the way up to MotoGP, Oliveira has been a rising star which has given KTM a good number of wins in his career.
Current Moto2 championship contender Miguel Oliveira will be heading up to the premier MotoGP class in 2019. This was confirmed in Jerez last weekend when he signed a deal with the Tech 3 squad. Oliveira will also be the first rider to go through the entire Red Bull KTM system all the way up to MotoGP.
The 23-year-old Portuguese rider started his international racing career in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and in 2015, he embarked on his Moto3 journey with the Red Bull KTM Ajo outfit. He amazed everyone with his riding skills despite being a rookie when he took home six wins and nine podium finishes.
He then made his move to Moto2 the following year but it was last year that he blew up the scene with a total of nine wins and three podium finishes. He finished third in the championship behind Franco Morbidelli and Thomas Luthi who are now rookies in MotoGP with the Marc VDS team.
According to Oliveira, “It is very early in the season but I am really happy that KTM has seen enough from this year and the last to trust me and believe I deserve this opportunity in MotoGP. I’m really thankful for that. I’ve always dreamed of MotoGP. I had it as a goal and to be able to achieve that is something so positive.”
“We still have a long Moto2 season ahead and the fact that this is already done allows me to relax and really focus on my riding. I have been through all the steps that Red Bull and KTM have together since the Rookies Cup; I believe I’m the first. I think that shows other riders can trust in KTM and their project. I think I have the skills and the will to be able to perform well on a MotoGP bike,” added Oliveira.
For 2019, KTM will be running four KTM RC16s in MotoGP where three of the seats have been confirmed. Johann Zarco and Pol Espargaro will spearhead the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing whereas Miguel Oliveira will ride for the Tech 3 squad.
There is still no news on who will be the second rider but it seems that Herve Poncharal is in favour of our national rider and MotoGP rookie, Hafizh Syahrin. There are five rookies in this season and he is currently the second fastest rookie behind Franco Morbidelli.
So far, he has managed to collect nine points from the first four rounds which puts him in 16th place in the championship. He is tied in points with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and amazingly ahead of high-profile factory riders like Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team), Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and more.
Image source: MotoGP
