Five-time MotoGP race winner Miguel Oliveira joins Danilo Petrucci at the factory BMW WorldSBK team for 2026.
This is a press release from BMW…
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.
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, with the Portuguese committing to the German brand for the 2026 season. It marks a new chapter for Olviera as he looks to make his mark in WorldSBK next season. Oliveira and Petrucci have worked together before in the 2021 MotoGP season, when the Portuguese rider raced for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and ‘Petrux’ for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing.
“To join the BMW family in WorldSBK is an exciting step in my career, one in which I see tremendous potential,” Oliveira said. “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.”
“Bem-vindo a familia, Miguel,” Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, said. “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.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal, said, “I’m delighted we can finally announce the signing of Miguel Oliveira to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Miguel has enjoyed an impressive career in MotoGP, and his arrival in WorldSBK is one of the most anticipated in recent years. We strongly believe he has the character, temperament, and skill set to take the BMW M 1000 RR to the very top and to continue the excellent work that Toprak has delivered over the last two seasons. We look forward to the first opportunity to get him on the bike. In the meantime, our focus remains on finishing this Championship as strongly as possible and building on that success as we move into 2026.”
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