Oliveira and Fernandez to Aprilia
Much talk surrounding the offer of significantly improved terms for Miguel Oliveira for the 27-year-old Portuguese driver to accept his resignation from the Factory Red Bull KTM Team, down to the Tech3 team managed by Herve Poncharal in the coming year. in 2023 under the GASGAS brand. However, KTM couldn’t do enough to convince their four-time race winner to stay with the Austrian marque in 2023. Jack Miller was previously confirmed to replace Oilveira at Red Bull KTMwith Brad Binder.
Oliveira enjoyed four years of riding with KTM, the first two years with Tech3, before promotion to the Red Bull KTM team in 2021. Oliveira has two wins with Tech3 in 2020, KTM’s home field at the Red Bull Ring. , and on his own home turf in Portimao. With Red Bull KTM, he had one win last year in Catalunya and another this year in Indonesia.
Oliveira has won more MotoGP races for KTM than any other rider and has been with the brand since 2017, when he raced Moto2. He also raced for KTM in the 2015 Moto2 season, thus he raced almost his entire adult career with KTM.
This confirmation of Oliveira’s move to Aprilia could greatly improve 24-year-old Australian Remy Gardner’s chances of retaining his seat on the Tech3 team, along with rookie Pol Espargaro. However, much talk surrounds the prospect of KTM promoting Spaniard Augusto Fernandez into the MotoGP ranks, from his current position with the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team, where he currently stands. second in the Moto2 Championship, one point behind leader Ai Ogura.
Pol Espargaro has been confirmed to participate Tech3 KTM for MotoGP season 2023 After a lackluster year with Repsol Honda, he only scored 42 points.
As for Gardner’s current teammate, Raul Fernandez, he has officially confirmed his departure from KTM and they have laid him off from the second year of his contract. Raul Fernandez has been with KTM through Moto3, Moto2, and graduated from MotoGP, so it’s another big split as KTM overhauls their entire MotoGP roster, with only Brad Binder remaining if Gardner leaves.
Fernandez will line up alongside Miguel Oliveira in the new RNF Aprilia squad in 2023.
Following the previous confirmation of Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales in the official Aprilia Racing team, this completes Aprilia’s driver list for 2023 and 2024.
Razlan Razali – Founder and Team Principal with Team MotoGPU RNF
“We are extremely excited to welcome Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernandez to the WithU RNF MotoGP Team from 2023. It has not been a simple process, but together with Aprilia we are very clear about the riders we are. I wish. Both are young riders with a good mix of experience coming from Miguel and Raúl, who I’ve been a huge fan of since he shocked in the Moto2 category last year to become Vice Champion. In the end to protect him, it’s great. “
Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing
“Our satellite project with the RNF Team is taking shape the way we conceived it in the first place. We have succeeded in protecting two extraordinary talents, two riders that I truly respect both from a human point of view and their technical skills. Miguel has shown his talent in all categories, even though he is very young he has accumulated a lot of experience by winning four races in MotoGP, sometimes with outstanding achievements. At his side will be Raúl, a racer I’ve made no secret of finding out a few times. I think he’s one of the clearest promises in recent years, what he did at Moto2 on his debut says a lot about his pace. We will have to be good at providing them with a technical package that allows them to reach their full potential. I would like to take this opportunity to thank KTM who showed great sportsmanship and allowed Miguel and Raúl to ride our bikes right after the end of the 2022 championship.“
Francesco Guidotti – Director of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team
“We are very fortunate to have Miguel’s intelligence, talent and professionalism as the lead in the factory team. When we were able to create the right package for him, he showed his class and provided some important input into the development of the KTM RC16. That is something we will always appreciate. Obrigado Miguel! “
Pit Beirer – Director of KTM Motorsports
“Thank you Miguel for everything he brought to our MotoGP program and for all the strong values he stands for. He passed our KTM system but he also helped make every step valid and competitive by being on the podium 36 times and bringing us 16 wins, four of them. at MotoGP. The win over Austria in 2020 was simply amazing and was only improved by dominance and emotion in Portugal towards the end of the season. He really showed the young riders the ‘orange path’ through the MotoGP pyramid. He’s absolutely a Pro, a family man, and he’s definitely going to be missed in our paddock section. We wish him all the best for his future in the MotoGP class. “
Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager Tech3 KTM
“Tech3 KTM Factory Racing wishes Raul Fernandez the best of luck at MotoGP for next season. Our paths will split at the end of the season, but we are honored to have the Moto2 champion vice-captain join us in his debut in the MotoGP division this year. Despite the disappointing results for both sides in the first half of this season, Raul was professional and it was great to work with him. He is an excellent rider and I am confident that he has a bright future in this category. We still have seven races left in 2022 so we will continue to work hard together to finish our adventure the right way. Now that he has a clear future and less pressure on his shoulders, I hope that he enjoys his final months with us, and hopefully this turns out well.. “
