Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder face a second consecutive week of action with the desire to continue the evolution of their KTM bike in the Moto2 class.

The Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit will host the seventh Moto2 race of the year this weekend, just days after the Italian GP. Miguel Oliveira’s fifth position and tenth for Brad Binder on his return to action were positive results at Mugello, upon which the pair will look to build at the Catalan GP. In addition, it will be a very special race for the Portuguese, who in his seventh season in the World Championship will contest his 100th Grand Prix.

It was in 2012 that Miguel Oliveira first took a podium at a Grand Prix event and five years later, the Portuguese will celebrate a century of races at the very same circuit. After returning to the Top 5 in Italy, the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is confident of continuing this dynamic this weekend and getting back to fighting for the podium. In his previous experience at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit as a Moto2 rider, last year he finished eighth -his best result of the season.

Brad Binder made a welcome return to competition in Italy, with a stellar tenth place after starting from 23rd place on the grid. Despite having been able to undertake few days of physiotherapy before this race, the South African expects his arm to react better this weekend. On his last three visits to Barcelona, Binder has two Top 10 finishes and a second place last year.

The Catalan track has been modified for this weekend, with a last sector that is practically new. There is now a new curve 10 and a chicane before the last corner. For Oliveira and Binder it will be the first time they ride there since the modifications were made. As usual at European rounds, the Moto2 race will start at 12.20pm.

Circuit information – Barcelona-Catalunya
Length: 4.655 m / 2.9 miles
Width: 12 metres
Left corners: 7
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.047 m / 0.651 miles
Constructed: 1991
Modified: 2017

41 BRAD BINDER
“We have had little time between the race in Mugello and this one in Barcelona, but the last result has to give us encouragement to continue working hard. Since Monday I have been back in the hands of physiotherapists so that although the days between races are very few, my left arm can be as strong as possible. The Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit is completely different from the one in Mugello. It will be a difficult weekend, of course, but if we feel like we did at the previous GP, we can take another step forward.”

44 MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“After the Italian GP we were left with a good feeling, having returned to a place in the Top5. The Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit this year has modifications in the layout of the last sector. The chicane comes before it did last year, so the circuit will become faster. We will try to adapt as quickly as possible to this and go there with an open mind to work and try to do the best we can. This is a circuit that has always suited me, so we are motivated to continue in the same way.”