After Michael Laverty had some comments about Miguel Oliveira and how he didn’t do enough to earn Aprilia promotion to the factory team, and mentioned Yamaha’s clear interest in the Portuguese given his talent, Sylvain Guintoli also left a word to the rider, regretting that the injuries suffered in 2023 have greatly affected his performance.
The Frenchman, a former Suzuki test rider in MotoGP, knows Portuguese well and the reality of the category, and had no doubts in stating that Yamaha would be a good option, but without also forgetting the growth of the current #88 team, in words to TNT Sports: ‘[Yamaha] would definitely suit him, whether he decides to go there or not. The Trackhouse and Aprilia, with Davide Brivio, is starting to gel’.
In a class like MotoGP and where details make a difference, the increasingly positive results of the North American team, leveraged by Oliveira’s performance at Sachsenring, will have a positive effect on the structure, as well as on the next sensations – in this case of the rider – and that can be considered to continue: ‘Normally that’s a snowball effect, things get better and better, you get more confident. When that happens, you don’t want to go. We’ve seen great signs lately, it’s not a one-off’.
Guintoli also recalled the bad luck that followed Oliveira in 2024, clarifying: ‘I feel for Miguel last year, it wasn’t his fault. He was quick, he gelled immediately with the Aprilia but got an injury in Portimao, then again in Jerez. It took him time to rebuild. It’s nice when you can fight back, and come back’.