Miguel Oliveira retired from Sunday’s Japanese MotoGP due to visibility problems but if he had kept going for just half a lap he would have been credited with sixth place.
The RNF Aprilia rider stormed from 16th to 4th in the opening seven laps, which included a dry-to-wet bike swap."
But like most riders, he was running a ‘dry’ visor set-up, which became overwhelmed by the increasing rain.
The Portuguese was in sixth when he parked his RS-GP in the pits on lap 12 of what was due to be a 24-lap race.
However, the race was then stopped at the start of lap 13, with results taken from the end of lap 12.
With his bike moved from pit lane into the garage, it was unclear if Oliveira would be allowed to join the planned restart.
Examination of the timing of the stoppage and Oliveira’s bike in pitlane saw him classified 18th and one lap down at the conclusion of lap 12.
