MotoGP: Fernandez to Replace Injured Oliveira at Qatar GP

Miguel Oliveira will miss the MotoGP Qatar GP as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. The injury happened during a sprint race crash with Fermin Aldeguer at the Argentina GP. Although scans showed no fractures, ligament damage has delayed his return. Oliveira also missed the rest of the Argentina round and the Americas Grand Prix. Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez will replace him again, getting another chance to race in MotoGP.

Pramac Yamaha confirmed that Oliveira is still not fit for the fourth round of the 2025 MotoGP season. Fernandez, who joined Yamaha’s test team after losing his Tech3 KTM seat for 2025, will now race in Qatar. Oliveira, a five-time MotoGP race winner, is focused on full recovery. His return to racing will depend on when he is fully fit.

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In a statement, Yamaha Racing said: 'After undergoing further medical examinations to assess the recovery progress of his left shoulder— injured in a crash during the Sprint Race in Argentina — Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP regrets to inform that Miguel Oliveira will unfortunately have to miss the Qatar GP as well, scheduled for the weekend of April 13 at the Lusail circuit.

'As was the case last weekend at the GP of the Americas, where he finished 13th in Sunday‘s race, Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Rider Augusto Fernandez has been confirmed as his replacement.'

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With Oliveira still sidelined, Augusto Fernandez will once again step in as his replacement, just as he did at the Austin race. In his last appearance, Fernandez finished 13th and earned three championship points in a challenging main race, showing he can deliver steady results as a stand-in rider.