BRAD BINDER SAYS MIGUEL OLIVEIRA’S ARRIVAL AT BMW WILL MAKE WORLD SUPERBIKE ADJUSTMENT EASIER

Brad Binder says he’s “sad” to be leaving MotoGP when his KTM contract ends at the close of 2026, but he’s also looking forward to a fresh start in WorldSBK with BMW. The German manufacturer has confirmed that Binder will make his debut in the World Superbike Championship in 2027, stepping in for Danilo Petrucci.

For Binder, the switch is also personal. He will be joining Miguel Oliveira at BMW, and Binder joked that he doesn’t even want to count how many times the pair have been teammates. Their careers have overlapped across multiple categories: they first crossed paths in the 2011 125cc season, and they later shared garages in Moto2 and Moto3.

Speaking to AUTOhebdo, Binder described the move as both an emotional departure and a new beginning. He said: “I’ve been in this paddock since 2009, since I started in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. On one hand, it’s a little sad to leave this environment. But on the other, I’m really excited about this new challenge. “I’ve been in the same place for a while. Seven seasons in MotoGP have been great. But I think it’s time to embark on a new adventure, to start from scratch.”

Binder also explained why he believes BMW will be able to work effectively with both riders. He said: “Miguel and I, I don’t even want to count how many times we’ve been teammates. He’s a really cool guy, and I’ve always enjoyed racing alongside him. Our styles are quite similar, which makes things a bit easier for the guys who prepare the bikes.”

The 31-year-old’s confidence is tied to the way Oliveira rides. Binder believes their approaches are close enough to help the team when setting up the bikes. Oliveira’s 2026 form has included strong results, with Binder pointing to the Portuguese rider’s three podiums in round two at Portimao.

Oliveira, meanwhile, has already been in the BMW WorldSBK project since 2026. His switch to the series came after Yamaha decided not to extend the second year of his factory MotoGP contract, allowing him to race for Pramac instead—an arrangement that also cleared the way for Toprak Razgatlioglu to move in the opposite direction. In the WorldSBK context, BMW previously enjoyed major success with Razgatlioglu, taking back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.

However, 2026 has been more difficult for BMW. Ducati has dominated the season so far, and both Oliveira and Petrucci have dealt with mixed campaigns that have been affected by injuries. Even so, BMW would have taken encouragement from Oliveira’s Portimao run, which came as a home-soil highlight.

The wider 2026 standings underline the challenge BMW faces. Ducati star Nicolo Bulega can clinch the WorldSBK title next time out at Cremona. Bulega leads his Ducati teammate Iker Lecuona by 146 points with three rounds remaining, while third place Yari Montella is 306 points behind. Oliveira is currently BMW’s leading rider in 11th, sitting 446 points off Bulega, though he has missed seven races.

Looking ahead to 2027, Binder and Oliveira will be aiming to build momentum as WorldSBK introduces rule changes and as Michelin tyres come into play. Binder’s expectation is that BMW’s task will be made “easier” by the similarity in riding style between him and Oliveira, and by the familiarity they bring from years of racing together across the junior ranks and beyond.