Source: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing drafted in Moto2 talent Miguel Oliveira for a recent test at Aragon in Spain, granting the intermediate class regular an opportunity to experience the MotoGP specification RC16.

The Portuguese athlete joined KTM’s premier class contenders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, alongside long-time test rider Mika Kallio.

Oliveira revealed his intention for the test was to enjoy the outing, expressing his thanks to the Austrian manufacturer for the rare opportunity.

“The goal was not that I was to get really fast but it was a test for myself to enjoy the day.” said Oliveira. “I had this opportunity that I think every rider would like to have in his career at least one time but I’m really pleased to have had the chance to try that bike. So all in all it was a very good day to do a few laps and enjoy a MotoGP bike. Thank you KTM.”

Overall it was positive test for the KTM outfit following 16 hours of track time, with KTM’s MotoGP technical director Sebastian Risse mentioning many changes were put in place, but due to the weather, not all of them could be carried out.

“On the one hand we had new ideas, and on the other we had a very long and intense hardware programme on the chassis side of things,” Risse commented. “Although the weather was not perfect, it was good enough to go through every item. That’s great as now we can go happy to the summer break because we’ve found some stuff that really touched the bike behaviour big time in a positive way.

“We still have to find out how to put it all together and make it work on another track so let’s not be too optimistic, but either way it couldn’t have gone much better here so now we go home with a very good feeling.”

The MotoGP championship is currently at the beginning of the European summer break, which will see racing resume in the Czech Republic on 6 August.