The ItalianGP delivered KTM’s first silverware of the 2021 MotoGP season as Miguel Oliveira captured second position at Mugello from a hard-fighting Joan Mir. 

An exceptional start, from seventh on the grid, put the Portuguese rider in solid podium contention from the off as he claimed fourth on the opening lap. Allowing time for his hard front tyres to fully warm, Oliveira was gifted third on the next revolution as Pecco Bagnaia crashed out of the lead. 

Fully up to speed and having carefully analysed Johann Zarco over a number of laps, the KTM mounted his attack for second with eight to go, making the move stick and maintaining his advantage over the pursuing Suzuki of Joan Mir - the duelling pair crossing the line just half-a-second apart.

Post-race politics saw both podium positions removed and then reinstated due to track limit infringements with Oliveira consolidating the subdued Parc Ferme celebrations in second position. 

"I don't think I gained any advantage, touching the green there” Oliveira said after the race. 

"I think even in Misano last year, we asked to extend the painting around the last corner, just to avoid this kind of situation. It's not very often there are times where in the MotoGP class you go off track limits and you gain any advantage. To manoeuvre the bike at high speeds, at the exit of that corner, it's quite hard and so it's already a fight just to stay in the track - to touch the green, at the high speed, where you are already looking into the other corner, it's quite hard. Fortunately Joan also got out, so!” he joked.

Reviewing the race and his first podium of the season, he continued:

“It was a fantastic weekend for us, I think we were quite discreet but strong in every session. The qualifying was okay, so far the best of the season with the seventh place, then everything went accordingly to the best plan I could have imagined. 

“A good start, positioned myself in third. The beginning of the race, for sure I couldn't stay with the top group because I had the hard front tyre and I was a bit more careful, needed to give it a little good warm up before I began to push and then, everything worked really well. I managed to overtake Johann and keep the other Joan  behind, so was a nice race. I really enjoyed riding today, within the circumstances that we all know, and it's a good result to carry this momentum into Barcelona next week.

“Finally we tried to focus on small stuff and this frame is giving us a little advantage when it comes to long distance, in the race. In these conditions, everything worked so hopefully it will work also in the next few tracks.”

Returning to the somber focus of the weekend, the 26-year-old explained, “There is no preparation for anything like today. It's a very thin area where you want to beat the other guy and also, you respect him and I think today we all came into this race with a lot of respect for each other. 

“I think that, at least the only lesson I can take out of these events, is that more and more, we need to respect each other and be respectful of the limits that we impose on each other when we are racing. This is the pure reality. We are all together in the racetrack, we are kind of alone, but race in a group, at high speed, blind corners, very little that you can do to avoid a kind of situation like that. I feel sorry for Jason, feel sorry for his family, cannot imagine the pain that they are going through but we must carry on because it's the biggest tribute we can pay to him and to his family, to continue to race.”