A big shift is happening in motorcycle racing. Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira is set to make a fresh start. He’s officially joining the World Superbike Championship next season. The move means a new home with BMW, racing for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. He’ll share the garage with Italian rider Danilo Petrucci.
This news confirms Oliveira’s exit from the MotoGP scene. His last season with Prima Pramac was a tough one. An early injury really hurt his performance. The team decided to stick with Jack Miller. They also brought in Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is a star from the World Superbike series. Now, Oliveira, at 30 years old, is ready for a completely new challenge.
Oliveira sounds very excited about this change. “Joining the BMW family in World Superbike feels like an exciting step,” he explained. He sees “tremendous potential” in this new path. He noted that the project is both “ambitious and competitive.” It has already made a big impact in racing and the motorcycle industry. “Being part of a new team, working with strong partners, and a fresh championship format gives me huge motivation,” he added. He then shared his thanks with Sven Blusch, Chris Gonschor, and Shaun Muir for their trust. “I can’t wait to start this new chapter together,” Oliveira said, speaking to the World Superbike website.
Sven Blusch, the head of the German team, welcomed Oliveira warmly. “Welcome to the family, Miguel,” Blusch stated. He expressed great happiness about having Oliveira join as a factory rider. Blusch praised Oliveira’s career, calling him one of his generation’s most talented riders. Oliveira has won races in all three categories, including five in MotoGP. This brings valuable experience and professionalism to their team. Blusch believes Oliveira and Petrucci will form a strong racing duo. He mentioned they already know each other well. This pairing helps BMW Motorrad Motorsport push forward in WorldSBK. “The whole team looks forward to working with him,” Blusch concluded.