MotoGP

Oliveira denies deal, but admits meeting with Gresini: "We wanted to get to know each other".

Portuguese rider stressed that the goal for 2023 is to have a bike that allows him to win races. Miguel ruled out racing the Tech3 next season in MotoGP

Miguel Oliveira admitted he had a "small meeting" with Gresini in Barcelona, but said he still has nothing settled with the team led by Nadia Padovani. The Portuguese rider stressed that his goal is to get a competitive bike for 2023 and, therefore, he was interested in meeting the Italian team.

Oliveira doesn't have a contract for 2023. The house of Mattighofen even expressed interest, but made it clear that the pilot of Pragal had to be open to race with the Tech3 satellite next year, since they are also holding talks with names like Jack Miller, Pol Espargaró and Álex Rins. Miguel, however, rejected the offer to return to Hervé Poncharal's team and made it clear that he wanted to keep his place in the official structure.

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Miguel Oliveira, his father and Paolo Ciabatti walk towards Gresini this weekend (Photo: Reproduction/Simon Patterson)

In this scenario, Oliveira has been looking at other possibilities and at the weekend he was seen in the company of his father, Paulo, who also acts as his manager, and Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati's sporting director, walking towards the Gresini office in Barcelona.

Speaking to Italian TV, Miguel confirmed the meeting, but denied that he has already signed a contract.

"My goal is to ride a competitive bike. This is the case with Ducati at the moment. And it seems that there is a spot available at Gresini," said Oliveira interviewed by Italian broadcaster Sky Sport. "We had a little meeting, we wanted to meet, we sat down and talked. Nothing serious yet, so my future is still open," he assured.

"My goal is to ride a bike that is capable of winning races," he stressed.

According to the British website The Race, Miller has reached an agreement with KTM and should be announced at the new team this week.

MotoGP returns to the track on June 19 for the German GP at Sachsenring, round 10 of the 2022 season.GRANDE PRÊMIO is following all the activities of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.