Marco Bezzecchi
The 2026 MotoGP grid looks all set with one more seat left to confirm.
The MotoGP rider market has been fairly quiet this season after Dorna stepped in to prevent several riders from breaking contracts. Jorge Martin was denied a move away from Aprilia, while others, such as Pedro Acosta and Enea Bastianini, also could not leave their deals.
Subsequently, those out of contract in 2025 have found themselves with new deals. Franco Morbidelli will stay at VR46, while Luca Marini and Johann Zarco will stay at Honda HRC and LCR respectively.
Somkiat Chantra is set to lose his seat in 2026 as LCR have signed Diogo Moreira from Moto2. On Wednesday, the final seat on the MotoGP grid was confirmed at Yamaha.
Jack Miller will stay with Pramac for 2026, beating Miguel Oliveira for the seat next to Toprak Razgatlioglu. The two-time World Superbikes champion will make his move to the premier class next season.
Dorna would love to see Miguel Oliveira back on the grid in 2027 – he is the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ of MotoGP
It has long been known that Miller would keep his seat at Pramac. Oliveira was not meeting a performance clause in his contract, having scored just 10 points thus far in 2025.
Injuries have not helped the Portuguese rider, having missed four races after a crash in Argentina, but he has been considerably the worst-performing Yamaha rider when fully fit. Oliveira has ‘accepted’ his fate as his exit from MotoGP is officially confirmed.
The 30-year-old is not shy of offers for 2026, with reports suggesting that Aprilia have offered him a return as a test rider. However, Oliveira did not seem keen on the move as he wants to keep racing, with WSBK being his likely destination.
In a report from MOW, the Portuguese rider has ‘several more than desirable’ options in WSBK, including Yamaha. But it also suggests that Dorna could do something to get Oliveira, described as ‘second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’ in his home nation, back in MotoGP.
The report states that Dorna ‘insists, pushes, and applies pressure’ to ensure that he stays in the premier class. With no seats available for 2026, they could look to be the deciding factor in Oliveira returning in 2027, as Liberty Media look to increase the number of nations in the sport.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Miguel Oliveira from net worth to wife
Yamaha could ‘easily’ offer Miguel Oliveira a test rider contract to stay in MotoGP
MotoGP fans Yamaha dealt a ‘low blow’ to Oliveira, scolding the manufacturer for dropping him when he has been ‘plagued by injuries in recent years’.
The harsh reality is that the 30-year-old will not be on the grid in 2026, but he could stay with the Iwata outfit. According to the MOW report, ‘Yamaha will easily offer Oliveira’ a test rider contract, which would ‘please everyone’ involved.
With the MotoGP concessions system, it is plausible that he could ‘take part in around ten race weekends next season’ as a wildcard or possible replacement. But with the Portuguese rider wanting to stay in full-time racing, he may not be keen on such a move.
Ultimately, WSBK seems like his best bet to stay in competitive racing. Oliveira could potentially rely on Dorna to get him back into the premier class in 2027.
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