{"id":1868897,"date":"2026-04-05T12:27:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868897"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:27:12","slug":"miguel-oliveira-opposes-ducati-worldsbk-performance-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868897","title":{"rendered":"Miguel Oliveira opposes Ducati WorldSBK performance penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Miguel Oliveira opposes Ducati WorldSBK performance penalties<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Miguel Oliveira says he does not want Ducati to be hit with any WorldSBK performance penalties after its dominant start to 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Alex Whitworth <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-06T11:32:37+00:00\">Updated: 06 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Nicolo Bulega leads Miguel Oliveira, Iker Lecuona, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and\u2026<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Miguel Oliveira thinks Ducati should not be subject to any performance penalties in WorldSBK despite dominating the first two rounds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all six races so far in 2026 in the hands of Nicolo Bulega, who leads the World Superbike riders\u2019 standings by 56 points after two rounds \u2013 only six points short of a full race weekend worth of points.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Italian was not in as commanding a position at round two in Portugal as he was at the opener in Australia, but he still led every lap and won every race by at least two seconds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Bulega was also backed up by his new factory Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona who finished second in all three races. Barni Ducati&#8217;s Yari Montella qualified on the front row in Portugal, too, and was on the podium in Australia, as was Lorenzo Baldassarri for Goeleven, the latter battling through arm pump in Portugal to finish sixth in Race 2.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The first non-Ducati at Portimao was BMW&#8217;s Miguel Oliveira in each of the three races, taking a trio of third places.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Oliveira was four seconds behind Bulega in Race 1, and then seven seconds back in Race 2. The Portuguese showed speed that was as fast as Toprak Razgatlioglu\u2019s on the BMW at Portimao in 2025, but whereas Razgatlioglu took a trio of victories, Oliveira was never in touch with the winner at Portimao in 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati, of course, introduced a new generation of its Panigale V4 R for this season, but despite its unbeaten start and his own deficit to first place at Portimao, Oliveira says he does not want the Bologna factory to be hit with any kind of performance penalty in the form of an adjustment of the performance balancing rules which since last year have been centered on maximum permitted fuel flow rates.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-d0a77b55aefa7c6166da0fd15c8aef580d9b3dd7515e62a5f82c524092f1f07a\">  Miguel Oliveira rewarded by \u201cwhatever I do\u201d in WorldSBK   Nicolo Bulega&#8217;s WorldSBK numbers put Marco Bezzecchi&#8217;s MotoGP stats in the shade <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWithout question, they deserve what they get out of it,\u201d Oliveira said after Race 2 in Portimao, as reported by Speedweek.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt&#8217;s a combination of the work they do at the factory and the team and the drivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don&#8217;t think it needs any special adaptation, they are just doing their job \u2013 and that&#8217;s why they&#8217;re at the top. It&#8217;s also the case that they are not the only Ducati on the grid \u2013 there are many who finished behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b4a3681d49f39bf3960255048b8031ea8eb803c32e6b8fdd5e884f85a6d9efa0\">  Former MotoGP winner still looking for BMW WorldSBK \u201cbase\u201d   Miguel Oliveira gains WorldSBK veteran praise after \u201cfantastic\u201d Portugal races <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe need to look at ourselves and not point the finger at others for their success. This is a world championship, we have to try to reduce our gap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The deficit to Ducati, Oliveira suggested, was about corner entry speed and then stability on corner exit.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur limitations that we had at the weekend, and where I feel that the competitors are a bit stronger, are the stability when the rear wheel slips and the speed when we turn into the corners,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn these areas we were at the limit, in other sections of the track I tried to compensate for that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSaturday&#8217;s race was over five seconds faster than last year, I was just under half a second faster than last year&#8217;s winner, but that wasn&#8217;t enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur competitors have taken an extra step and we have to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Miguel Oliveira<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Aruba.it Racing &#8211; Ducati<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Ducati WorldSBK rider tipped to be \u201cback at full power\u201d at Assen<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1300776_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-4dbdb02797440561111468113b0966ad2f5b776311304101bf5e8aed0c2e58c3\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Alex Whitworth<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Journalist<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Alex joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having covered consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown for two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-a433bb65877c61bef5e6b0d318cf8148eb30bdc1964d2f1b2d4d3bd3dfedea53\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Danilo Petrucci insists Miguel Oliveira\u2019s WorldSBK podiums don\u2019t add \u201cpressure\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774869603\"> 30\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1300490_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Danilo Petrucci, Miguel Oliveira, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, BMW roundtable. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cHappiness\u201d at BMW but Miguel Oliveira unsatisfied after first WorldSBK podiums<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774812965\"> 29\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1303638_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Miguel Oliveira, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, grid. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Nicolo Bulega enjoys \u201cspecial\u201d Portuguese WorldSBK, Toprak Razgatlioglu record nears<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774810356\"> 29\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1303354_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, podium. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The \u201ctarget\u201d achieved by one Ducati rider at Portuguese WorldSBK<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774807028\"> 29\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1303357_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Iker Lecuona, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, podium. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>WorldSBK wins \u201cnot realistic\u201d for Miguel Oliveira despite Portugal podium<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774726514\"> 28\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1302237_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Miguel Oliveira, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, podium. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> World Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Nicolo Bulega wary of overconfidence as unbeaten WorldSBK run continues<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1774724798\"> 28\/03\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/gng_1302235_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK, podium. Credit: Gold and Goose.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Miguel Oliveira says he does not want Ducati to be hit with any WorldSBK performance penalties after its dominant start to 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Miguel Oliveira thinks Ducati should not be subject to any performance penalties in WorldSBK despite dominating the first two rounds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all six races so far in 2026 in the hands of Nicolo Bulega, who leads the World Superbike riders\u2019 standings by 56 points after two rounds \u2013 only six points short of a full race weekend worth of points.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Italian was not in as commanding a position at round two in Portugal as he was at the opener in Australia, but he still led every lap and won every race by at least two seconds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Bulega was also backed up by his new factory Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona who finished second in all three races. Barni Ducati&#8217;s Yari Montella qualified on the front row in Portugal, too, and was on the podium in Australia, as was Lorenzo Baldassarri for Goeleven, the latter battling through arm pump in Portugal to finish sixth in Race 2.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The first non-Ducati at Portimao was BMW&#8217;s Miguel Oliveira in each of the three races, taking a trio of third places.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Oliveira was four seconds behind Bulega in Race 1, and then seven seconds back in Race 2. The Portuguese showed speed that was as fast as Toprak Razgatlioglu\u2019s on the BMW at Portimao in 2025, but whereas Razgatlioglu took a trio of victories, Oliveira was never in touch with the winner at Portimao in 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati, of course, introduced a new generation of its Panigale V4 R for this season, but despite its unbeaten start and his own deficit to first place at Portimao, Oliveira says he does not want the Bologna factory to be hit with any kind of performance penalty in the form of an adjustment of the performance balancing rules which since last year have been centered on maximum permitted fuel flow rates.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-d0a77b55aefa7c6166da0fd15c8aef580d9b3dd7515e62a5f82c524092f1f07a\">  Miguel Oliveira rewarded by \u201cwhatever I do\u201d in WorldSBK   Nicolo Bulega&#8217;s WorldSBK numbers put Marco Bezzecchi&#8217;s MotoGP stats in the shade <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWithout question, they deserve what they get out of it,\u201d Oliveira said after Race 2 in Portimao, as reported by Speedweek.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt&#8217;s a combination of the work they do at the factory and the team and the drivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don&#8217;t think it needs any special adaptation, they are just doing their job \u2013 and that&#8217;s why they&#8217;re at the top. It&#8217;s also the case that they are not the only Ducati on the grid \u2013 there are many who finished behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b4a3681d49f39bf3960255048b8031ea8eb803c32e6b8fdd5e884f85a6d9efa0\">  Former MotoGP winner still looking for BMW WorldSBK \u201cbase\u201d   Miguel Oliveira gains WorldSBK veteran praise after \u201cfantastic\u201d Portugal races <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe need to look at ourselves and not point the finger at others for their success. This is a world championship, we have to try to reduce our gap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The deficit to Ducati, Oliveira suggested, was about corner entry speed and then stability on corner exit.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur limitations that we had at the weekend, and where I feel that the competitors are a bit stronger, are the stability when the rear wheel slips and the speed when we turn into the corners,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn these areas we were at the limit, in other sections of the track I tried to compensate for that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSaturday&#8217;s race was over five seconds faster than last year, I was just under half a second faster than last year&#8217;s winner, but that wasn&#8217;t enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur competitors have taken an extra step and we have to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Miguel Oliveira thinks Ducati should not be subject to any performance penalties in WorldSBK despite dominating the first two rounds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati has won all six races so far in 2026 in the hands of Nicolo Bulega, who leads the World Superbike riders\u2019 standings by 56 points after two rounds \u2013 only six points short of a full race weekend worth of points.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Italian was not in as commanding a position at round two in Portugal as he was at the opener in Australia, but he still led every lap and won every race by at least two seconds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Bulega was also backed up by his new factory Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona who finished second in all three races. Barni Ducati&#8217;s Yari Montella qualified on the front row in Portugal, too, and was on the podium in Australia, as was Lorenzo Baldassarri for Goeleven, the latter battling through arm pump in Portugal to finish sixth in Race 2.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The first non-Ducati at Portimao was BMW&#8217;s Miguel Oliveira in each of the three races, taking a trio of third places.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Oliveira was four seconds behind Bulega in Race 1, and then seven seconds back in Race 2. The Portuguese showed speed that was as fast as Toprak Razgatlioglu\u2019s on the BMW at Portimao in 2025, but whereas Razgatlioglu took a trio of victories, Oliveira was never in touch with the winner at Portimao in 2026.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ducati, of course, introduced a new generation of its Panigale V4 R for this season, but despite its unbeaten start and his own deficit to first place at Portimao, Oliveira says he does not want the Bologna factory to be hit with any kind of performance penalty in the form of an adjustment of the performance balancing rules which since last year have been centered on maximum permitted fuel flow rates.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-d0a77b55aefa7c6166da0fd15c8aef580d9b3dd7515e62a5f82c524092f1f07a\">  Miguel Oliveira rewarded by \u201cwhatever I do\u201d in WorldSBK   Nicolo Bulega&#8217;s WorldSBK numbers put Marco Bezzecchi&#8217;s MotoGP stats in the shade <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWithout question, they deserve what they get out of it,\u201d Oliveira said after Race 2 in Portimao, as reported by Speedweek.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt&#8217;s a combination of the work they do at the factory and the team and the drivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI don&#8217;t think it needs any special adaptation, they are just doing their job \u2013 and that&#8217;s why they&#8217;re at the top. It&#8217;s also the case that they are not the only Ducati on the grid \u2013 there are many who finished behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-b4a3681d49f39bf3960255048b8031ea8eb803c32e6b8fdd5e884f85a6d9efa0\">  Former MotoGP winner still looking for BMW WorldSBK \u201cbase\u201d   Miguel Oliveira gains WorldSBK veteran praise after \u201cfantastic\u201d Portugal races <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe need to look at ourselves and not point the finger at others for their success. This is a world championship, we have to try to reduce our gap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The deficit to Ducati, Oliveira suggested, was about corner entry speed and then stability on corner exit.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur limitations that we had at the weekend, and where I feel that the competitors are a bit stronger, are the stability when the rear wheel slips and the speed when we turn into the corners,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn these areas we were at the limit, in other sections of the track I tried to compensate for that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSaturday&#8217;s race was over five seconds faster than last year, I was just under half a second faster than last year&#8217;s winner, but that wasn&#8217;t enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur competitors have taken an extra step and we have to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/wsbk\/news\/1092879\/1\/miguel-oliveira-opposes-ducati-worldsbk-performance-penalties&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/gng_1303382_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Miguel Oliveira opposes Ducati WorldSBK performance penalties Miguel Oliveira says he does not want Ducati to be hit with any WorldSBK performance penalties after its dominant start to 2026. Alex Whitworth Updated: 06 Apr 2026 Share Nicolo Bulega leads Miguel Oliveira, Iker Lecuona, 2026 Portuguese WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and\u2026 \u00a9\u00a0Gold &amp; Goose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1868897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868897\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}