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Confirmed 2026 MotoGP rider moves to WSBK 

Written by Isha Reshmi Mohan, Edited by Gabriel Tsui

Miguel Oliveira on the Pramac bike
Miguel Oliveira on the Pramac bike | Credit: Prima Pramac Press

With the 2025 season nearly wrapped up, it’s almost time to start filling the remaining spots for the 2026 lineup. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, two riders have now confirmed their departure from MotoGP to make the move to WSBK.


Miguel Oliveira to join BMW Motorrad 

Miguel Oliveira at the Mandalika Circuit
Miguel Oliveira at the Mandalika Circuit | Credit: Prima Pramac Press 

With the confirmed move of WSBK’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to the Yamaha Prima Pramac team, it was unclear who would make space for the Turkish rider. After Jack Miller openly expressed his impatience and willingness to leave in order to pursue opportunities elsewhere, the Pramac team confirmed that Miller would, in fact, continue with the team in MotoGP.


There was no update from Oliveira regarding the 2026 season until the end of September, when it was announced that he would be taking over the seat left vacant by Razgatlıoğlu — essentially an unplanned switch.


Oliveira made his MotoGP debut in 2019 with Tech3, when the team switched from Yamaha to become a KTM satellite outfit. He stayed with Tech3 for three seasons before being promoted to the KTM factory team, where he raced for two years. 


After that, he moved to RNF, then to Trackhouse Racing, and finally joined the Yamaha Prima Pramac team for the 2025 season.


Somkiat Chantra to Honda 

Somkiat Chantra will race in the WSBK series in 2026
Somkiat Chantra will race in the WSBK series in 2026 | lcr_team via X

On the same day as Oliveira’s announcement, Honda also revealed that Somkiat Chantra would be moving to the Honda team in WSBK, leaving the LCR team after just one year. 


Although the decision wasn’t entirely surprising given his lack of performance, it was unfortunate timing, as the news came just as he was beginning to show signs of progress. In the most recent race in Japan, he placed 9th in free practice and later managed to score a race point on Sunday, following Jack Miller’s retirement due to a chain issue.


This move is also expected to pave the way for Diogo Moreira to step up to MotoGP, likely taking over Somkiat’s seat.


Somkiat Chantra was the first full-time Thai rider to race in MotoGP and will now make history again as the first to compete in WSBK. 


While it may be unfortunate that he didn’t get more time in the MotoGP series, Honda’s continued support for Asian riders has played a key role in keeping him in a top-tier racing class, rather than seeing him return to competing at a regional level.


With these moves now in place, the gaps have been filled for both the Honda and Prima Pramac MotoGP teams. Barring any unexpected changes, this should confirm a full grid for the 2026 season.


And so with only four races left in the current season, be sure to catch the next one: the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, on October 19th at 3:00 AM GMT.

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