Miguel Oliveira achieved a dream of three podiums on the World SBK in Portugal in March, however the three-week Dutch spherical will supply a unique outlook.
2026 World Superbike rookie Oliveira simply defeated skilled teammate Danilo Petrucci at Portimao to turn into the most effective BMW rider thus far this 12 months.
Nonetheless, final 12 months’s Dutch spherical was not a very good one for BMW. Toprak Razgatlioglu gained the moist Tremendous Pole race, however completed on the dry podium in each lengthy races (4th in race 1 and eighth in race 2). It was an impressive end result for the Turkish rider, who had completed on the rostrum in each European race final 12 months, apart from the Jerez Superpole race, the place he crashed out after colliding with Nicolo Brega as a consequence of a mixture of lack of efficiency and poor tire put on.
Quick ahead one other 12 months to the 2024 Assen victory for BMW and Razgatlioglu, however he additionally completed ninth in that weekend’s Superpole race. This was additionally his third occasion as a BMW rider as a consequence of poor tire put on.
For Oliveira, reminiscences of Portimao stay sturdy, however when eager about the potential for this weekend (April 17-19), BMW’s current type at Assen stays in his thoughts.
“After I left Portimao, I knew it will be a particular and memorable weekend due to all of the assist,” Miguel Oliveira advised WorldSBK.com.
“Ranging from third place in race 1, now we have already achieved one other milestone with our first podium at WorldSBK.”
He added: “Analyzing the previous couple of years with BMW, it seems to be a tough observe, however we’ll attempt to profit from our sources and the power of the bike to be as near the entrance as doable.”
“Some factors appear to be quick, flowing corners, however I do not assume the turning was the most effective in these corners. Tire put on was additionally a difficulty right here.
“I believe it will likely be a bonus for everybody this 12 months, particularly as now we have made slightly little bit of changes to the rear tires, however we have to work on making it as much less of a problem as doable.”
The tire Oliveira was referring to is Pirelli’s new F0298 rear tire, which is an evolution of the SC0 tire. Commonplace SC0 may also be allotted this weekend, as will the respective normal types of SC1 and SCX compounds.
