We had anticipated it over the past few weeks, and now it is official: Miguel Oliveira will be the new BMW rider in Superbike. Dumped by Yamaha in MotoGP, the Portuguese rider has decided to accept the challenge in the production based series riding the M 1000 RR.
Below is the team's statement.
Miguel Oliveira will join the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with the German brand confirming the Portuguese rider as Danilo Petrucci's teammate next season. The team will have two new riders for next year as Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) heads to Pramac Racing in MotoGP – effectively taking Oliveira’s place – while Michael van der Mark confirmed he won’t race with BMW in WorldSBK next year ahead of the French Round.
Success in Moto3: runner-up in 2015.
Oliveira’s world stage debut came in the 125cc World Championship when he raced on an Aprilia, scoring 44 points in 11 races. In Moto3 the following year, he claimed his first podium in Barcelona before repeating that at Phillip Island. Two more podiums followed with Mahindra Racing across the 2013 and 2014 campaigns, but it was a move to Red Bull KTM Ajo where the Portuguese rider shone. Six wins and nine podiums in 17 races helped him to P2 in the Championship.
SIX-TIME WINNER IN Moto2: a P3 and P2 in the Championship standings
Oliveira moved to Moto2 for 2016 with Leopard Racing on the Kalex machine, but managed only 36 points in 14 races. Despite a tricky season, he returned to the Red Bull KTM Ajo fold for 2017 and 2018, where he enjoyed lots of success. He claimed six wins and 21 podiums in his two seasons with the team, finishing third and second in the standings; behind Franco Morbidelli and Thomas Luthi in 2017 and Pecco Bagnaia in 2018.
MOVING TO THE PREMIER CLASS: a race winner in his second season
The Almada-born rider’s performances were enough to grab a MotoGP seat in 2019 and he scored 33 points in his maiden season. 2020 was the breakthrough for Oliveira as he claimed two wins – at the Styrian and Portuguese Grands Prix, before winning the 2021 Catalan Grand Prix and 2022 Thai Grand Prix for KTM. In total, he won five races for the Austrian brand before a move to Aprilia machinery in 2023 and 2024, although he was unable to hit the same high notes as when on the KTM. For 2025, he moved to Pramac Racing with the Yamaha M1, although faced an injury-hit campaign.
OLIVEIRA’S NEXT CHALLENGE: a WorldSBK move with BMW
BMW moved to secure the services of the 30-year-old as soon as it became official he wouldn’t race in MotoGP with Pramac Racing, with the team keeping Jack Miller for another season. It marks a new chapter for Oliviera as he looks to make his mark in WorldSBK next season.
OLIVEIRA: "To join the BMW family in WorldSBK is an exciting step in my career, one in which I see tremendous potential."
Discussing his move to BMW for 2026, the Portuguese star said: “To join the BMW family in WorldSBK is an exciting step in my career, one in which I see tremendous potential. I am becoming part of a project that is not only ambitious and competitive but has also made a significant impact on both the Championship and the motorcycle industry. Being involved with a new team, working alongside strong partners, and embracing a new Championship format gives me great motivation to deliver my very best. I want to sincerely thank Mr. Sven Blusch, Technical Director Chris Gonschor and Team Principal Shaun Muir for their trust and enthusiasm. I can’t wait to begin this new chapter together.”
BMW ON OLIVEIRA’S ARRIVAL: “Miguel has impressively proven throughout his career that he belongs to the most talented and versatile riders of his generation”
Picking up his words is Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport: “Bem-vindo a familia, Miguel. We are very happy to welcome Miguel Oliveira as a new factory rider for our ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Miguel has impressively proven throughout his career that he belongs to the most talented and versatile riders of his generation. With victories in all three Grand Prix classes, including five in MotoGP, he brings valuable experience and a high level of professionalism to our project. Together with Danilo Petrucci, his new teammate, he forms a strong and competitive rider duo. The two already know each other well. This constellation gives us the opportunity to take the next steps in our development and to further reinforce BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s ambitions in WorldSBK. The entire team is very much looking forward to working with him."
“But for now, our focus is on the remaining races of this season, with big goals: we want to win the World Championship title again with Toprak Razgatlioglu and build on Michael van der Mark’s strong performance at Magny-Cours in order to also play a decisive role in the battle for the manufacturers’ title. Michael’s time in our WorldSBK project will come to an end after this season. I would like to sincerely thank him for his commitment, his successes and his achievements during his five years in our WorldSBK team. We are currently working on opportunities for further collaboration with him within the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family and would be delighted to move into a new future together with him.”