Marco Bezzecchi
Miguel Oliveira’s career in MotoGP has seemingly come to an end, but the Portuguese rider has revealed how close he was to signing for Gresini in a deal that would have seen him race atop Ducati machinery in 2023.
The Portuguese rider was the third man from the Iberian country to appear in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing upon his debut with KTM Tech3 in 2019.
Miguel Oliveira then became the very first Portuguese native to win a MotoGP race after taking his maiden chequered flag at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix, following a last gasp double overtake on Pol Espargaro and Jack Miller at the final corner of the race.
Oliveira, who is dubbed the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo of MotoGP’ would then go on to win his home Grand Prix that same year, etching himself into Portuguese history as their most successful rider in the premier class.
READ MORE: Neil Hodgson feels one MotoGP rider has ‘checked out’ after what he saw at the Portuguese Grand Prix
Miguel Oliveira details the events that led to him missing out on a Ducati ride with Gresini in 2023
In an interview with Sport TV, Oliveira detailed the events that led to him signing with Aprilia’s satellite team RNF Racing in 2023 as he revealed how close he was to joining Ducati’s satellite team, Gresini Racing.
The Portuguese rider began by highlighting how hurt he was after being ousted from his race seat at KTM after negotiations broke down. Miller was swiftly announced as his replacement.
Oliveira was thus on the hunt for a new team to lay roots at, and has recently detailed the subsequent events, saying, “During conversations, Aprilia appeared, and at a certain point, Ducati also appeared.
“We were left without the option of even being able to start a collaboration at Ducati, because at the time the Gresini team did not show the financial health that it has now. That’s where Alex Marquez appeared in the structure.
“And I, in every way, would have had to wait a long time, until September, to have an answer from Ducati. Therefore I risked ending up without a place in MotoGP.
“And that is when we decided to go with Aprilia and it was a choice that I think was a correct choice as well.
“It happened that I entered a project, a new team also, with a team in their first year of being satellite team with factory support. We had some unexpected setbacks, but I’d say it was a good marriage.”
READ MORE: Yamaha kept Toprak Razgatlioglu out of sight of Miguel Oliveira during the Valencia Grand Prix
Where will Toprak Razgatlioglu finish in his first MotoGP season?
Miguel Oliveira’s departure from MotoGP will see him swapping places with Toprak Razgatlioglu
After Pramac decided to pull the trigger on signing Toprak Razgatlioglu for the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season, it became clear that one of Miller or Oliveira would lose their seats at the Italian satellite team.
In the end, Oliveira was the man to receive his marching orders, with Miller’s experience atop V4-powered bikes becoming a crucial factor in their decision as Yamaha continue to refine their new 2026 challenger.
With the rest of the MotoGP grid not interested in the 30-year-old’s talents, Oliveira secured a deal with BMW for the upcoming WSBK campaign, where he will fill the seat that was left by the same man he is being replaced by at Pramac, Razgatlioglu.
Miller sent his counterpart a heartfelt message after the deal was confirmed, noting that he will be keeping an eye on how he does in the category, in the hopes of him finding some success there.
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