Portimao MotoGP: Herve Poncharal: 'It was like a fairytale'
After snatching his and Tech3's first MotoGP victory on the exit of the last corner in Spielberg, Miguel Oliveira's second and final win for the team couldn't have come under more different circu♉mstances.
Oliveira qualified on a home pole position for Sunday's inaugural Portimao grand prix, then led for every single☂ lap, finishing with a final victory margin of 3.1s over Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) after backing off in the closing laps.
It wasn't just the perfect way to end the season, but also Olivei൲ra's Tech3 career, before moving to the official factory KTM team in 2021.

After snatching his and Tech3's first MotoGP victory on the exit of the l💫ast corner in Spielberg, Miguel Oliveira's second and final win for the team couldn't have come under more different circumstances.
Oliveira qualified on a home pole position for Sunday'🐎s i🃏naugural Portimao grand prix, then led for every single lap, finishing with a final victory margin of 3.1s over Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) after backing off in the closing laps.
It wasn't jusꦏt the perfect way to end the season, but also Oliveira's Tech3 career, before moving to the official factory KTM team in 2021.
“Honestly, I am speechless," said team boss Herve Poncharal. "We knew this weekend was going to be special, a special circuit, great weather and great people to welcome us in Portugal. But we also knew there would be some pressure and we were just hoping that everything wa♋s going to work out well.
"When we made the pol🤡e, I thought ‘Wow, we achieved something great’ and this is 50% of the weekend done, but I knew that the biggest part was ahead of us on Sunday. I didn’t sleep 🅘well last night, because I knew the expectations were big and I knew there was a possibility of a great result.
"All the Red Bull and KTM top management were here and I knew how important this race was for Miguel, so I was very tense until the MotoGP race started and once it started, ꦏit wasღ like a fairytale.
"We didn’t expect Miguel to break a🐼way the way he did and to open such a gap in just a few laps. [Then] it was just counting down the laps and hoping for no mistake, because nothing is ever done until you see the chequered flag.
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ"But I’ve been impressed by how cool, calm and I would say ‘zen’ Miguel ♎has been all weekend long. He is really a great guy, a great champion, because to cope with the pressure the way he did, means you have a lot to still demonstrate.
"This victory was the second one of the year, the second one with Miguel of course, and the second one with KTM, but maybe that one is even s🌳tronger in terms of how dominant Miguel has been.
"It was a demonstration of Miguel together with the KTM RC16 and I’m just in heaven… As I told the KTM Factory guys, he is ready, he is 'hot', so now yo๊u can receive a top MotoGP rider for the next two seasons."
After th🌊e race, Tech3 announced that Oliꦑveira's victory was also Guy Coulon's last race as crew chief:
It has been a very special for our Guy Coulon as well, as he will step back from the role as a crew chief, but of course stay within the team
— Tech3 Racing (@Tech3Racing)
Merci Guy
Danilo Petrucci will take over Oliveiraღ's seat alongside Iker Lecuona next season, the Spaniard missing the last three rounds due to Covid restrictions and bei𝄹ng replaced by KTM test rider Mika Kallio in Portimao.
"We’ve been missing Iker a lot, but still we ha🌠d the great pleasure – and honour - to have Mika Kallio coming to replace Iker," Poncharal said.
"It was not easy. He didn’t have any time on the bike almost [this year], he didn’t know the circuit. The whole grid is riding♑ every week, so it was very difficult.
"But he did a perfect week꧋end, not one crash, improving his lap time nearly every session and finally a decent result [17th out of 18]. So, I would like to thank him and congratulate him."
Poncharal concluded: "It was a long season, a tough season, but we are already thinking in a few days we’ll be a b🍌it bored and we are really wishing to be back on the tracks as soon as possible!”
Covid re🏅strictions permitting, the 2021 MotoGP season is scheduled to begin with a pre-season test at Sepang in February.

Peter has been in the paddock for 20 yearsඣ and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.