Marco Bezzecchi
Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira are fighting to keep their seats at Pramac. And it’s not necessarily guaranteed that either will stay for 2026.
Pramac announced the signing of two-time World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu after the Aragon GP. Miller only signed a one-year contract, while Oliveira isn’t meeting a performance clause in his deal.
Paolo Pavesio says Pramac’s second rider will be confirmed before the summer break, giving the incumbent duo just four races to save themselves. If neither impress, the Japanese manufacturer will be tempted to shop the market.
Miller is the second-highest Yamaha in this year’s championship, level on points with Alex Rins but ahead courtesy of his P5 in Austin. Oliveira ranks down in 23rd place but has missed four races through injury.
Aprilia and Yamaha could battle it out for Manu Gonzalez
Three riders graduated from Moto2 for the 2025 season – Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra. While Chantra is a long way off the pace, Ogura and Aldeguer have both impressed.
Given that most of the grid signed multi-year deals last year, there are relatively few openings available. But one Moto2 rider could still break through – Manuel ‘Manu’ Gonzalez.
Gonzalez currently leads the standings ahead of Aron Canet, though they are again level on points. It’s his fourth full season in the intermediate class, and after finishing third last year, he’s now on course for the title.
The 22-year-old has won four races in the series, taking six poles and 11 podiums. He tested for Aprilia at Aragon earlier this month, completing 61 laps.
Speaking on the Paddock Pass podcast, journalist David Emmett suggested Gonzalez could be an option for the Italian brand next year amid uncertainty over the futures of Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez. And he also said Yamaha are interested as they look to fill their final seat.
“Absolutely [he’s a favourite to step up to MotoGP],” Emmett said. “He’s going to have a number of suitors for his hand, which are going to include Aprilia, which are going to Yamaha.
“Are you really going to give Raul Fernandez another year on that bike? Ai Ogura is doing fine. Maybe Aprilia needs another bike if Jorge Martin goes. Someone is definitely going to look at him.
Jack Miller has one intriguing offer if he loses Pramac MotoGP seat
Yamaha have also been linked with Enea Bastianini amid talk that he could terminate his Tech3 contract. The Italian has been unable to adjust to the KTM bike.
Miller could feel hard done by given his performances relative to Rins and Quartararo, but he has lacked consistency. His results this year read 11th, 13th, 5th, DNF, DNF, DNF, 7th, 14th.
There’s a possibility that he could end up swapping disciplines with Razgatlioglu. Honda are chasing Miller for their WSBK team and they could end up appointing his close friend Cal Crutchlow.
Miller has received another big incentive to join Honda after the news that the series will adopt Michelin tyres for 2027, potentially giving him an advantage over the rest of the field.
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