Only few hours before the KTM Super Test, the native child Luis OLIVEIRA (P – Yam) took few minutes between his studies and the recognition of the special tests to answer to this interview…
First of all, Luis OLIVEIRA, you’re well-known in Portugal but present you to all the Enduro fans in the world that don’t know you very well…
Luis OLIVEIRA: “My name is Luis OLIVEIRA, but everybody call me Oliveirinha. I started to ride a bike when I was 9 years old in Motocross. Then I came to Enduro when I was 16 where I made my first steps on the Portuguese Championship. At 18, I decided to race the Enduro World Championship and the European Championship. I won the titles of Portuguese Champion and Junior European Champion in 2011. Last year, I finished second of the E1 class of my National Championship! This year, I compete in the Junior class on the EWC and in E1 on the National!"
You’re 6th avec three Grand Prix, what do you think of you start of the season in Junior?
L.O: “Well, I’m satisfied with this start of season. I made some good times in every special tests and I’m not so far from the bests. Now I miss this luck that few riders have. And I have to admit that I made few mistakes that penalize me… Some youth mistakes that I hope I will correct as soon as possible!”
After the GP of Spain, you came back to your studies until yesterday… Isn’t it hard to mix your studies with high level Enduro?
L.O: “Oh yes, it’s really difficult! This year a bit less than the others. Last year I had many subject to learn, while now I have only one so I spend less hours in school. But the studies take me a lot of time!”
Do you find the time to train with you numerous studying hours?
L.O: “I have the High level rider status in Portugal. So my school hours and the exams are according to my availability. Last year, I had only one day in the week to train. Now, I manage to go to the gym four or five times by week and to train on the bike two or three times. It’s easier but I have to keep my mind on the studies because a rider life last only until 35 years old!”
“My dad is my coach, my adviser, my mechanics…”
Unlike most of the riders, you’re not professional and you’ve created your own private team with the help of friends and your dad… Isn’t it too difficult for a young rider?
L.O: “I’m very lucky to have friends that help me a lot to develop my team. I have just to take care of the race and make good results. Of course it is really difficult to be in a private team as I have also to attract sponsors during the season. A private team is not so easy to keep safe and I’m really lucky have friends and my dad that help me a lot!”
But we can imagine that with your talent you received some offers from official teams?
L.O: “No, unfortunately! I had some proposals from teams to ride on the World Championship. But I had to bring money to the team in order to benefit to all the services the team can bring me. At the end, it was more expensive than creating my own private team so the choice was easy to take!”
Your dad is following you regularly on the EWC, what does he represent for you? A coach? An adviser?
L.O: “On the sport side, my dad represents every people a professional rider needs. He is my coach but also my adviser, my mechanic and my marketing representative! I can thank him a lot!”
Isn’t it difficult to be high level rider in Portugal?
L.O: “Oh yes, it is very very difficult. In Portugal, the government and the Federation don’t help very much the high level riders. For example, for the World Championship, the Federation pays me only the licence. I have to do by myself with the trips, the housing… Fortunately, I manage to find some generous sponsors.”
“In 2012, or I find an official team, or I stop!”
Who are you models and idols since your child in Enduro?
L.O: “I never liked to watch Motocross or Enduro competition on TV so I never knew many riders when I was young. But when my dad brought me he always told me… “Do this like MERRIMAN, do that like MERRIMAN, use your feet like MERRIMAN!” Thanks to my dad, Stefan MERRIMAN became an example for me in my improvement!”
In a next future, how do you see your future in the EWC?
L.O: “With my team, we have a goal! This year is crucial! I find an official team at the end of the season, I continue my adventure in the EWC but if I don’t find a team, I’ll have to stop… Indeed, it is more and more difficult to find money to make a season in the World Championship so this season it’s double or quits! But, if I continue in the EWC, the Junior World Champion title will be one of my serious goals!”
What do you have to say to the numerous supporters that will come this weekend to follow you?
L.O: “I want to tell them that my only goal the weekend is to reach the podium. I really want to get these podiums to thanks all the people of my team that work a lot for my success. But also to thanks the public that, I’m sure, will be numerous tonight! I will give all my power during those two days in order to make proud of me all the Portuguese fans!”
Communication FIM Enduro World Championship - www.enduro-abc.com -