Miguel Oliveira and Marc Marquez are reminded of last year’s enormous hit by their return to Portimao this weekend.
In the opening race of 2023, a reckless Marquez, whose problems on his underperforming Honda were getting worse, decisively eliminated Oliveira from his home Portuguese MotoGP.
Oliveira had a hip injury, and Marquez hurt his hand. Jorge Martin came out with a knock as well.
After the race, Aleix Espargaro angrily declared, “In my opinion, they should ban him for at least one race.”
“I don’t set the guidelines. I only hope Miguel is doing well. His impact could have destroyed your knee due to its speed.
Marquez was given a double-long lap penalty, which led to a chaotic altercation between him and Repsol Honda.
The sentence was written to be served specifically at the next round in Argentina, which Marquez was injured and could not attend.
Honda was successful in challenging the penalty that was supposed to be enforced upon Marquez’s comeback when the FIM Stewards attempted to reword it, and no punishment was meted out.
Marquez’s injury at Portimao and subsequent crashes prevented him from finishing a grand prix until the tenth round of the previous season.
The injuries they sustained in their collision also hurt Oliveira’s season.
This weekend marks Oliveira’s first race back in Portugal following that incident.
“I think the result would have been different without that penalty that I served on Sunday in Qatar,” Oliveira said, citing his P15 performance in Qatar to begin the season.
“I think I can do better in Portugal. My favorite circuit is this one.
“Riding quickly is more natural for me in Portimao.”
When Marquez returns to Portimao, the Trackhouse rider anticipates a drastically different Marquez—one who isn’t fighting against his own equipment.
“I’ve seen Marc doing really well with the Ducati,” Oliveira remarked.
He might have held back a little because, in my opinion, he preferred to begin with a more reliable outcome.
“The speed, I already expected it.”
“After last year I had, I would like to get on the podium again and win a race, that would make me very happy,”
Naturally, Oliveira achieved a historic victory on home soil four years ago when he won the Portuguese MotoGP.
However, the disappointing season was put in motion by last year’s major crash.
“I want to win a race and stand on the podium again after the last year,” Oliveira said.
“I would be very happy about that.”