Miguel Oliveira joins Italian Danilo Petrucci, who has also competed in MotoGP and off-road (he competed in the 2022 Dakar Rally), replacing Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu, who will take his place at Prima Pramac Yamaha in 2026.

"Joining the BMW family in the Superbike World Championship is an exciting step in my career," said the Portuguese rider, as quoted in the German brand's press release.

Miguel Oliveira believes that this project "is not only ambitious and competitive," but "also has a significant impact on the championship and the motorcycle industry."

"Being involved with a new team, working alongside strong partners, and embracing a new championship format gives me great motivation to continue giving my best," he assured.

The 30-year-old Charneca de Caparica rider began his world championship career in 2011, in the then 125cc category.

In 2012, he remained in the lowest category, switching to four-stroke engines and becoming Moto3. In 2015, he finished runner-up, losing the title to Britain's Danny Kent. Between 2016 and 2018, the Portuguese rider competed in the Moto2 World Championship, where he also finished runner-up in 2018, losing only to Italian Francesco Bagnaia, who would go on to become MotoGP champion in 2022 and 2023.

In the World Championship, where prototype motorcycles compete, Miguel Oliveira achieved 17 victories out of a total of 41 podium finishes, nine of them in the premier class, MotoGP, where he won five races (Styria and Algarve in 2020, Catalonia in 2021, Indonesia and Thailand in 2022), all with KTM.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Sven Blusch has already welcomed the Portuguese rider. "We are delighted to welcome Miguel Oliveira as the new factory rider for our ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Miguel has impressively demonstrated throughout his career that he belongs among the most talented and versatile riders of his generation. With victories in all three Grand Prix categories, including five in MotoGP, he brings valuable experience and a high level of professionalism to our project," he said.