When Miguel Oliveira joined Pramac Racing for the 2025 MotoGP season, the move was billed as a fresh start. With Pramac switching to Yamaha machinery, the Portuguese rider was expected to spearhead the new project and prove himself as one of the most versatile riders on the grid. Oliveira, a five-time MotoGP race winner, had the pedigree, the talent, and the hunger to succeed. But months into the season, the story is different. Instead of making a strong case for himself, Oliveira has been plagued by errors, inconsistency, and pressure that has cost him the edge he once had. His journey with Pramac has become a case study in how multiple small mistakes, combined with tough circumstances, can derail a rider’s campaign.

Injuries That Derailed Momentum

One of the most damaging setbacks for Oliveira came early in the season. In Argentina, he was taken out in a sprint race incident, suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss multiple rounds. For a rider joining a new team and learning a new bike, missing valuable track time is disastrous. Every session matters when adapting to a fresh project, and the time spent in recovery meant Oliveira was constantly playing catch-up.

While other Yamaha riders were logging laps, gathering data, and working on development, Oliveira was sidelined. By the time he returned, rivals had gained an advantage in terms of confidence, setup knowledge, and rhythm. Even though he healed physically, the lost momentum had already cost him precious points and confidence.

Adaptation Problems with the Yamaha M1

Oliveira is no stranger to switching machinery, having previously raced with KTM and Aprilia. But adapting to the Yamaha YZR-M1 has been another story. Unlike Ducati’s aggressive power delivery or KTM’s adaptability, Yamaha’s machine requires precision in braking and cornering. Oliveira himself admitted he struggled especially with braking stability, a critical element in MotoGP.

At tracks with heavy braking zones, Oliveira has found himself unable to consistently extract the maximum out of the bike. This problem is compounded by Yamaha’s well-known lack of top speed, which forces its riders to rely heavily on braking and corner entry to make up time. The result is frustration: Oliveira pushes harder to compensate, but without the feeling he needs, mistakes inevitably creep in.

Strategy and Tyre Management Misfires

Oliveira has also been caught out by race strategy and tyre management. A clear example came at Le Mans, where he showed flashes of brilliance. Running as high as second in the Sprint and fighting competitively in the main race, Oliveira looked poised for one of his best results. But as the rain intensified, he began to suffer from a lack of rear grip, eventually crashing out in the closing laps.

It was not just a case of bad luck; tyre choices and setup adjustments played a role. In MotoGP, the margin between success and failure is razor thin. A small misjudgment in strategy can turn a podium into a crash, and Oliveira has been on the wrong side of that line too often this season.

The Pressure of Contract Clauses

Perhaps the most overlooked factor in Oliveira’s struggles is the pressure of his contract with Pramac. Reports suggest that Oliveira’s deal contains a performance clause requiring him to rank among the top Yamaha riders to secure his seat for 2026. That means he is not only fighting for points but also for his very future in MotoGP.

With teammate Jack Miller outperforming him consistently in both qualifying and races, Oliveira’s position looks increasingly fragile. Miller has been sharper in one-lap pace and more consistent across race weekends, leaving Oliveira scrambling. Instead of riding freely, the Portuguese star is weighed down by the need to deliver results under immense pressure. In a sport where confidence and flow are everything, this has proven to be another stumbling block.

Small Mistakes with Big Consequences

Even when fit and competitive, Oliveira has made small but costly errors in crucial race moments. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, he was in position to secure a valuable points finish but ran wide after braking too late in the final laps. That single mistake cost him a place and further chipped away at his confidence.

In isolation, such mistakes are forgivable—every rider makes them. But when added to injuries, adaptation struggles, and contract pressure, they paint a picture of a rider trying too hard to make up lost ground. The harder Oliveira pushes, the more mistakes creep in, creating a vicious cycle.

Comparing Oliveira to His Rivals

The harsh truth for Oliveira is that MotoGP waits for no one. While he battles to adapt, rivals are excelling. Ducati continues to dominate with a fleet of competitive riders, KTM has made major strides in development, and even Aprilia has remained competitive with Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró. Against this backdrop, Oliveira’s struggles stand out even more.

Within Yamaha, his position is also under scrutiny. Fabio Quartararo, despite criticizing Yamaha’s lack of progress, has managed to extract better results. Miller, meanwhile, has slotted into Pramac Yamaha with more immediate impact. For Oliveira, this comparison is brutal: his teammates and peers are making fewer mistakes, showing more consistency, and earning better results.

The Weight of Expectations

Oliveira arrived at Pramac with the reputation of being a rider who could deliver under pressure. His history of race wins with KTM, often in difficult conditions, made him seem like the perfect candidate to lead Yamaha’s new satellite project. But the weight of those expectations has only magnified his current struggles.

Fans and pundits expected him to shine, but instead, every error and missed opportunity is scrutinized. The Portuguese rider, once praised for his cool head and calculated racecraft, now finds himself portrayed as inconsistent and fragile. The reality is more complex—his struggles are a mix of circumstances and mistakes—but perception plays a big role in MotoGP, and right now, perception is not on his side.

Can Oliveira Still Recover His Edge?

Despite the difficulties, Oliveira’s career is far from finished. His natural talent remains, and when fully fit and confident, he has proven he can beat the best. The question is whether he can regroup quickly enough to convince Pramac and Yamaha that he deserves another chance.

To do so, Oliveira must eliminate the small mistakes, adapt more fully to the M1’s demands, and capitalize on opportunities in upcoming races. Consistent top-10 finishes would at least stabilize his campaign and show that he is moving in the right direction. Anything less risks leaving him vulnerable to being replaced by rising talents or Yamaha-backed prospects.

Conclusion

The story of Miguel Oliveira at Pramac Yamaha so far is one of potential undermined by setbacks. Injuries robbed him of momentum, adaptation issues with the Yamaha M1 slowed his progress, strategy missteps cost him results, and the constant pressure of contractual clauses has weighed heavily on his confidence. Added to that, small but costly mistakes in races have further damaged his chances of proving himself.

For Oliveira, these mistakes have collectively cost him his edge. The challenge now is not just to recover points but to rebuild trust with his team, regain confidence in himself, and show that he can still be the rider who once stunned the grid with brilliant victories. Time is running out, but Oliveira has faced adversity before. The question is whether he can turn things around quickly enough to keep his MotoGP journey alive.