Oliveira: Riding these bikes not cool when not 100%

Miguel Oliveira has provided an update on his physical condition after pulling out of the Malaysian Grand Prix on Friday due to recent injuries sustained in England and Australia.

While the Portuguese rider damaged his hand last weekend in a terrifying turn one spill at Phillip Island, it was the shoulder injury sustained during a collision with Johann Zarco at Silverstone in late August that still has the most troublesome effect.

Oliveira will fly to a Red Bull medical facility in Austria to have the injured shoulder checked to see if surgery is required. If it is, a recovery period of three months is expected, which would eat into his preparation time for the 2020 preseason.

“We need to clarify that with our medical team, that we trust, to basically understand the current condition,” said Oliveira on Friday. “If surgery is the correct treatment for what I have then we are talking about a three-month recovery and now it is borderline to come back to the test here fit.

“Obviously there is no doubt for the team and for me that we don’t want to compromise the beginning of next season [because] we have a very competitive bike and we want to do the maximum that we can. I cannot speak before I meet the doctor. Hopefully it is nothing and I can continue to ride.

“I have never had an injury like that [the shoulder]. I’ve broken bones and you know how long that will take but actually a tendon? I’ve never had that kind of injury, especially on the shoulder.

“For me it was quite strange to ride after the crash and I’ve never ridden as completely as I wanted. It obviously makes you think ‘what is the correct solution?’ but we don’t want to compromise the beginning of next year. We need to see.

“I was coming up really strong before I crashed in Silverstone with Johann and that is the biggest shame of the season because I felt really strong. I’ve crashed more in the second part of the season than I have in two years and that’s the reality of the situation.

“I don’t know if it is because of the shoulder. All I know is that I’m not 100% and when you are like that then to ride one of these bike it’s not cool at all.”

Did this shoulder problem make riding with injured hands even more difficult on Friday at Sepang? “Hard to say but it is kind of a domino-effect. If you don’t have flexibility on the shoulder then you start to compensate with the forearm and the back.

“We need to know as soon as possible. That’s the goal. When you are speaking about something that takes a long time…sometimes two-three weeks can make a difference.”