Miguel Oliveira

Profile

The first Portuguese rider to compete in the World Championship full time Miguel Oliveira rides for the Team Andalucía Banca Cívica team in 2011, having displayed his talents at a range of levels on his way the 125cc grid.

Aged just nine he finished fourth in his domestic MiniGP championship, receiving an award from the Portuguese Sporting Confederation in recognition of his talent. His first successes came in 2005 when he won the Portuguese MiniGP championship and Metrakit World Festival in Spain, in 2006 he repeated his Portuguese success and in 2007 he won the Mediterranean PreGP 125 Trophy. In 2009 he was third in the Spanish championship, and in 2010 battled Maverick Viñales to the final race of the season for the title, eventually finishing runner-up by just two points prior to his World Championship bow in 2011.