Especially Oliveira's Victory At The Portuguese GP

Miguel Oliveira (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Host driver Miguel Oliveira realized his dream of becoming champion in his hometown after appearing dominant at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday which also ended the 2020 MotoGP race season.

The KTM Tech3 team rider appeared dominant from the start from pole position and finished with a margin of 3.1 seconds ahead of Jack Miller of the Pramac Racing team at the Algarve Circuit track in Portimao who made his MotoGP host debut.

Portugal last held a Grand Prix in 2012 at the Estoril Circuit and Oliveira became the only Portuguese rider on the MotoGP grid this year.

The victory is the second time this season for the 25-year-old racer who will move to the KTM Factory Racing team to become Brad Binder's partner next year. Oliveira has proven herself capable of stealing top spot after her clever maneuvers at the final corner of Austria's Red Bull Ring led her to win the Styria Grand Prix in August.

"This is unbelievable. You dream of racing like this and in the end to be able to do it is something extraordinary. I cannot describe it in words," Oliveira said after the race as reported by Antara from the official MotoGP website, Monday, November 23.

"Thank you to everyone who watched at home, who couldn't come here today. To my team, this is also a goodbye to Tech3.

"It's an extraordinary day I can dedicate another win for Tech3 and KTM, a very big achievement for myself personally.

It was a special day for Oliveira too because this time her family, who could not be in Austria, came to Portimao and witnessed her victory firsthand.

Miller was also amazed by Oliveira's speed that day and called the rider, "on another level."

Oliveira also admitted that his struggle at Portimao felt different from what he had at Spielberg.

He ended the season in the perfect way! 🏆But now @ _moliveira88 wants more! In 2021, he'll be going for the crown! 👑 # PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 | 📽️https: //t.co/FFBY8VQda6

- MotoGP ™ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 22, 2020

"In Austria I overtook last and I was on the podium, but the emotions are different, lots of adrenaline.

"Whereas here there are not too many battles, first start and first place finish. It's about managing emotions throughout the race," he said.

Franco Morbidelli completes the podium in third place and is entitled to become the runner-up of the championship after maintaining his position in second place in the standings with a 19-point lead over Alex Rins.

Meanwhile, finishing runner-up Miller ensured the constructor's title fell to Ducati before moving to the factory team next year.

Suzuki and Ducati arrived at Portimao on the same points in the standings. But Miller's achievement contributed 20 points for the manufacturer from Bologna when Rins was only able to add one point after finishing P15 so that Ducati won the constructors' title for the second time since its last victory in 2007.

With this result Suzuki, who won the world championship title through Joan Mir's consistent performances and also the title of best team last week, failed to fulfill its ambition of sweeping the title this year. They were even overtaken by Yamaha, who came out as runners-up constructors thanks to an additional 16 points from Morbidelli.