‘It feels like a home GP’, despite no crowd allowed says Oliveira

Miguel Oliveira and KTM as a whole have endured a difficult start to the 2021 season, but the Portuguese rider heads to his home round at Portimao ready to pickup where he left off six months ago. 

Oliveira produced as dominating a victory as any rider managed throughout 2020 at the Algarve International Circuit, as he led from lap one until the checkered flag. 

While it hasn’t been a great opening two races in 2021 for the Austrian team, It wasn't all bad at Qatar which has somewhat become KTM’s achilles heel as a circuit, as Oliveira and team-mate Brad Binder both significantly improved from the first to second race. 

If not for a considerable loss of information on his dashboard early on which cost Oliveira a few tenths per lap, it could have been a double top ten finish with Binder claiming eighth place. 

Speaking about this, Oliveira added: "Yeah Qatar was a difficult couple of rounds for us. The second race was slightly better, but we had a small technical issue with our dashboard. 

"Despite that we had a stronger weekend, and coming here we would like to continue on the journey that we finished last year. 

"There is some expectation, but we should not be worried about repeating or improving a result.

"Instead just enjoy riding a GP that is a privilege for me to race in my home country, and just enjoy the normal process of working during the weekend and have fun at this beautiful track."

On Wednesday fans turned up in their droves to show support for Oliveira - remarkable scenes. 

But with no fans allowed in attendance, the 26 year-old was asked whether it has the same feel as a traditional home GP. 

He said: "Absolutely it feels like a home GP. Firstly I didn’t have to take a plane anywhere which was nice and is a big bonus, so it feels like home. 

"I got this huge reception yesterday from people who cannot be in the grandstands, and who gathered up by the entrance just to cheer me on and it is a great feeling. 

"To be honest, I got a little bit nervous because I was not expecting it, but it was a really nice surprise. So hopefully when it comes Sunday night they will be as happy as me."