Oliveira “surprised” by Yamaha MotoGP axe as he ponders future

Miguel Oliveira has admitted that he was “surprised” by Yamaha’s decision to invoke a performance clause from his contract and drop him from Pramac’s 2026 MotoGP line-up.

On Thursday, Yamaha announced that Jack Miller will remain at its satellite squad for a second consecutive season, partnering with incoming World Superbike Championship star Toprak Razgatlioglu.

The news leaves an uncertain future for Oliveira, with the Japanese manufacturer only stating that it “wishes him the best of luck and much success in the future challenges ahead”.

Only one of the two Pramac’s 2025 hires was ever likely to retain their seat after Yamaha announced the signing of Razgatlioglu back in June. There was also a risk that both could be axed simultaneously, as it fought for the services of Moto2 race winner Diogo Moreira.

In the end, Honda signed Moreira for its own satellite outfit, leaving Yamaha to conclude that Miller was the best choice for Pramac’s other remaining seat.

Oliveira spoke at length about the months leading to the decision, which he said came as a surprise to him, revealing how he felt like the “weakest link” in the line-up after a shoulder injury he sustained in Argentina forced him to miss four grands prix.

“I know there was this decision pending, but it came off surprise in the sense of the whole picture,” he explained.

“When I decided to join in 2024 [for 2025], this project was on a one-plus-one year deal with a performance clause in the mid-season of the first year. 

“The idea was to get two experienced riders on the second [Yamaha] team, just to try to get feedback and help transition the project. 

“I’m sure that [decision] was conditioned by two key moments. The first moment was the injury, where I came back too late into the season, when the decision on the second rider [Razgatlioglu] was already made for Pramac.

“I felt like the weakest link because I was coming from an injury and every race was kind of ‘prove yourself, show us what you’re worth’. 

“It’s OK to have pressure, but that kind of pressure is a bit…. I don’t want to say unfair, it’s not up to me to judge, but it was like this.

“The decision actually taking so long was creating more anxiety, maybe. Coming here [to races] and getting all you guys [journalists] – you have been I guess normal about it. 

“It was not a massacre, but there was always this topic pending, and you guys always ask. So coming into the weekends having to deal with that, plus [especially] with your stomach really twisting sometimes because you don’t know anything.

Miguel Oliveira, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“And the decision came late. In Balaton, finally the rookie [Moreira] Yamaha was trying to get said ‘no’, otherwise it would have been a different line-up of the one you’re looking at the moment. 

“It’s one of those things you may not agree [with], you may not find it the best, but it is what it is.”

Earlier this year, reigning champion Jorge Martin tried to extricate himself from his Aprilia contract based on performance clauses, having been almost entirely out of action due to multiple injuries.

The attempt caused an uproar, with critics questioning both his intent and professionalism after Aprilia stood by him throughout his injury layoff.

Oliveira now finds himself in the opposite situation, with Pramac Yamaha opting to part ways after his injuries prevented him from meeting the performance clauses in his contract.

Asked if it’s fair that there hasn’t been any backlash to Yamaha’s decision, he said: “Fair or unfair is not really up for me to judge. 

“At the end of the day, it’s a job of passion [and] a lot of passion comes into this. It’s a goal; it’s a child’s dream to go to MotoGP to ride a bike. To have this privilege is quite big. 

Miguel Oliveira, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“But at the same time, it’s a job and as any job, you have a boss and the boss decides and makes decisions. 

“As I said before, this [decision] came as a surprise. It came as a surprise in the sense of me talking to everybody in the team, the Japanese group trying to get their feedback on how I am doing.  

“And they really seem to like my feedback and the way I work, so you kind of start to think that actually things can go in your favor, but finally there’s one guy that decides and that and that’s it.”

Future undecided

Oliveira suggested he is interested in taking on a test role to remain in the MotoGP paddock, but is also keen on staying active as a full-time rider.

“On the paper, it looks like there are different doors open for me, and at the moment I have not decided anything yet, and I’m really open to hear any suggestions,” he said. “My heart is really really connected to this paddock and, of course, the thing available on this paddock might only be [a] test rider [role]. 

“But to be linked to a factory and help build the bike is something stimulating, it’s different [interesting], but also I really want to race.”

Asked if Yamaha has offered him an opportunity to replace the retiring Jonathan Rea in its WSBK team, Oliveira only said: “We are in talks.”