Marco Bezzecchi
BMW might not be looking to join MotoGP anytime soon, but the German giants are looking at its grid ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu’s departure from World Superbikes.
Markus Flasch, the CEO of BMW Motorrad, recently revealed that a prototype project is not off the cards. But he noted that any presence in the premier class paddock would ‘definitely not’ arrive for the debut of the new rules with 850cc bikes due in the 2027 MotoGP season.
Instead, BMW are looking at MotoGP for who they could field on the World Superbikes grid in 2026. Razgatlioglu has confirmed that he will leave BMW and finally make the move over to MotoGP with Pramac after agreeing a two-year factory Yamaha contract starting in 2026.
Razgatlioglu could even leave BMW after winning his second World Superbikes title with the brand this season. The two-time champion, who won his maiden WSBK crown with Yamaha in 2021, now leads Ducati rival Nicolo Bulega in the 2025 riders’ championship by 26 points.
BMW have made KTM Tech3 MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales a ‘substantial’ World Superbikes offer
Rumours rumbled at the recent World Superbikes round at Balaton Park, which will host the MotoGP Hungarian Grand Prix on August 22-24, that BMW are looking at Danilo Petrucci to replace Razgatlioglu. But BMW might also part ways with Michael van der Mark after 2025.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
And Motosprint now reports that BMW have even made KTM Tech3 MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales a ‘substantial offer’ to possibly join Petrucci as their 2026 World Superbikes line-up. Petrucci is expected to accept the chance to replace Razgatlioglu and get a factory position.
BMW have also considered Jack Miller, as his future at Pramac remains unclear, and Moto2 star Aron Canet for the bike that Van der Mark currently rides. Yet BMW believe Vinales can help them move on from losing Razgatlioglu, so they have made the 30-year-old a rich offer.
The Spaniard would have to reach an agreement with KTM to end his contract through 2026 for the Tech3 racer to join BMW for the 2026 World Superbikes season. KTM signed Vinales to a two-season, £3.5m-a-year contract after he decided to leave Aprilia at the end of 2024.
Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales would have to break his KTM contract to join BMW in WSBK
Vinales walked away from Aprilia at the end of his contract with the Italian crew after he lost belief in the RS-GP and endured a drop in form before signing for KTM to join Tech3 in 2025. The 30-year-old has largely justified his decision to jump onto the RC16 so far this term, too.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Toprak Razgatlioglu from net worth to nickname
Only Pedro Acosta has scored more points on the KTM RC16 than Vinales has so far in 2025 with 124 for the factory crew, compared to his compatriot’s 69 at Tech3. Brad Binder has 68 points and Enea Bastianini scored 48 during the first 12 of the 22 rounds in the 2025 season.
Neil Hodgson called Vinales MotoGP’s ‘surprise standout’ rider of 2025 back in May, as well, after the 10-time Grand Prix winner quickly exceeded the 2003 World Superbike champion’s expectations with KTM Tech3. Vinales has scored points in seven of his nine starts this term.
The highlight of his season so far is a P4 finish in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, plus P5s in the French GP at Le Mans and the Dutch GP at Assen. Vinales lost a P2 in the Qatar GP due to a front tyre pressure penalty, which dropped the 15-time MotoGP polesitter down to P14.
Tech3 were without Vinales at the Czech Grand Prix due to the shoulder injuries which ruled him out of the German GP after he crashed in qualifying at the Sachsenring. The German GP was the first race that Vinales missed in 73 rounds since the 2021 Americas GP with Aprilia.
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