Carbon swingarm 'present' for Oliveira
'It was really a nice present and surprise from KTM' - Miguel Oliveira receives carbon fibre swingarm for Assen.
As team boss Herve Poncharal had hinted, Tech3 received a notable update from KTM for the start of the Assen MotoGP weekend in the form of a carbon fibre swingarm for Miguel Oliveira.
The part was first used in a grand prix weekend by Pol Espargaro at Le Mans last month and has since also been fitted to the sister factory machine of Johann Zarco.
Oliveira was only 20th quickest (+1.990s) on Friday at Assen, but explained more set-up changes are needed to suit the new swingarm.
"For the first time, we got to try the carbon swingarm, which worked quite well, so it was really a nice present and surprise from KTM that we could use this part here on Friday," Oliveira said.
"Now we need to change the balance of the bike a little bit as we have to adjust the setting to the new swingarm. Yet, we are optimistic for tomorrow.
"We lowered our lap time by one second from this morning, although it was a bit tough this afternoon as everyone was quicker than this morning and we were not improving enough to also climb up in terms of positions."
Team-mate Syahrin was 21st quickest.
