Oliveira ‘couldn't see’, Fernandez fuming over bike swap penalty

The RNF Aprilia rider stormed from 16th to 4th in the opening seven laps, which included a dry-to-wet bike swap.

But like most riders, he was running a ‘dry’ visor set-up, which became overwhelmed by the increasing rain.

The Portuguese was in sixth when he parked his RS-GP in the pits on lap 12 of what was due to be a 24-lap race.

However, the race was then stopped at the start of lap 13, with results taken from the end of lap 12.

With his bike moved from pit lane into the garage, it was unclear if Oliveira would be allowed to join the planned restart.

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Examination of the timing of the stoppage and Oliveira’s bike in pitlane saw him classified 18th and one lap down at the conclusion of lap 12.

That at least meant he could take the restart, albeit from pit lane (due to being a lap down). But conditions failed to improve, meaning the restart was cancelled and final results taken from lap 12.

"It was actually going well, the flag to flag was smooth with no big issues,” Oliveira said. “I changed the bike and started my wet race and I was feeling quite competitive.

“Then with more rain I felt even better, the bike was handling quite well. But then three laps before I retired, I started to struggle to see. I couldn't see anything and it never happened to me, I couldn't even see where I was going to put my wheels.

“There was so much water and I was telling myself to be calm and not to quit. But I came half a lap distance [from completing lap 12] and that was my race finished. The guys pulled in the bike into the garage which made it complicated to then restart, but finally I could restart from the pit lane, but the race was already ended."

Team manager Wilco Zeelenberg said: “They all started with the dry visor. The rain was pouring and the water came into his helmet, so he could not see anything for a couple of laps. For safety reasons, he decided to pit in. Unfortunately, again, after he came in, they red-flagged the race half a lap later due to the weather conditions.”

Team boss Razlan Razali acknowledged the visibility problem but felt retirement could have been avoided by a change of helmet.

“[Miguel] couldn't see anything. It's something that in the future we would need to do something rather than sitting it out, we need to understand the issue because he can change his equipment when he has a problem,” Razali said.

Fernandez fuming over bike swap penalty

Sunday was team-mate Raul Fernandez’s first experience of a flag-to-flag bike swap race.

It ended with ninth place, but the young Spaniard was left fuming at a long lap penalty for an incorrect bike swap.

The penalty was given for pulling across into his pit box before the designated ‘marker’ on pit lane.

Similar penalties were given to Cal Crutchlow and Maverick Vinales.

"Today, I'm honestly quite angry for the long lap penalty. For me, I feel it was not fair,” he said. “It was my first race with flag to flag in MotoGP, I crossed the line a little bit ahead of my number [marker].

“Yes, that was wrong, but I didn’t have space really and in this hectic moment, I think this can happen. I think to have to do a long lap is quite harsh for this.

“But at the same time, I'm very happy with the work that we did throughout all the weekend. The team did a fantastic job and we were fighting for top six.

“Then we had the red flag because the track wasn't safe, and we didn't restart the race. Anyway, we will try again in Mandalika."

“Raul was penalised for changing his bike incorrectly, he was supposed to go around his number rather than going before it and that incurred a long lap penalty for him,” confirmed Razali. “It brought him back to ninth and that is where he finished at the red flag.”

Oliveira is 13th in the world championship and Fernandez 19th heading into the Indonesian round, next weekend.