Miguel Oliveira out of Argentine GP after sprint crash with Aldeguer

Oliveira sustained injuries after a Turn 2 collision with Aldeguer, forcing him to miss the Argentine Grand Prix.

A "get well soon" poster is placed on the bike of Miguel Oliveira of Portugal and Prima Pramac Yamaha, who was forced to retire before the race of the MotoGP of Argentina at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo on March 16, 2025, in Rio Hondo, Argentina. Photo by Gold & Goose/LAT Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Miguel Oliveira's weekend at the Argentine Grand Prix ended in disappointment after a crash in the sprint race forced him to withdraw from the main event. The Pramac Yamaha rider was involved in a Turn 2 collision with rookie Fermin Aldeguer, resulting in injuries that prompted his team to send him back to Europe for further medical evaluation.

The incident occurred on lap five of the sprint race when Aldeguer attempted an aggressive move but lost control, causing a domino effect that took Oliveira down. While the initial medical checks at the circuit suggested no fractures, the Portuguese rider later reported severe pain in his left shoulder and sternoclavicular area. Given his discomfort and the risk of further complications, the team opted to withdraw him from the main race.

"I have a big hematoma in the sternoclavicular area, and my whole body is in pain at the moment," Oliveira said. "I will focus on my recovery with physiotherapy and hope to be back on the track soon."

Oliveira’s tough weekend before the crash

Even before the incident, Oliveira was already struggling at Termas de Río Hondo. His qualifying session did not go as planned, leaving him to start the sprint from 17th on the grid. Despite showing some promise in the early laps, his race was abruptly cut short when Aldeguer's mistake led to the crash.

"Unfortunately, I had a big crash at the beginning of lap five," Oliveira explained. "In Turn 2, a rider tried to overtake me too aggressively. He lost control and hit the back of my bike in a classic domino effect."

Aldeguer, who also crashed in the incident, was penalized with a long-lap penalty for the main race. The Gresini Ducati rookie expressed regret over the collision, but the damage had already been done—Oliveira's Argentine GP was over.

Another injury setback for Oliveira

Fermin Aldeguer of Spain and BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP and Miguel Oliveira of Portugal and Prima Pramac Yamaha skid off the track after crashing during the MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix Sprint race at Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on March 15, 2025. Photo by Luis Robayo/AFP

This latest setback is not the first time Oliveira has had to sit out a race due to injury. At the end of the 2024 season, he missed five races after fracturing his wrist in a crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix. Now, the 30-year-old faces another recovery period, with his return to racing dependent on the results of further medical checks.

Pramac Yamaha has confirmed that Oliveira is traveling back to Portugal for additional evaluation. While the team had high hopes for him in the 2025 season, they are prioritizing his long-term fitness and are not taking any risks with his condition.

Pramac Yamaha adjusts plans as Oliveira recovers

With Oliveira ruled out of the main race, Pramac Yamaha will have to rely on its remaining riders to secure strong results in Argentina. Meanwhile, Aldeguer's penalty serves as a consequence for the maneuver that cost Oliveira his race, but it does little to change the outcome for the Portuguese rider.

As Oliveira begins his recovery, his team and fans will be hoping for a swift return. His performance in the early races of the season showed potential, but his immediate priority now is regaining full fitness before making his comeback on the MotoGP grid.