With Oliveira confirmed to be leaving KTM after the team announced Jack Miller as Brad Binder’s team-mate for the 2023 MotoGP season, it had looked like a move to Gresini Ducati was on the cards.
But with RNF switching Yamaha for Aprilia next year, it appears as though the Noale-based manufacturer has convinced the Portuguese rider, who is a four-time MotoGP race winner to join its satellite team on a two-year deal.
In their report, Sky Italia said: “Aprilia scores a great market hit in view of 2023, Miguel Oliveira has in fact signed a two-year contract with the Noale manufacturer to race in Razlan Razali’s RNF satellite team.
“In recent weeks, the Portuguese rider had been very close to an agreement with the Gresini team, however, he never actually formalized an economic proposal.
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“In addition to the interest of the Gresini team, KTM had again shown interest in Oliveira who in the end chose the Aprilia project.”
Aprilia was thinking of as the most likely destination for Rins, which in-turn played into the belief that Ducati and Oliveira would carve out a deal.
But with Aprilia making Oliveira an offer he could not refuse, that left the Suzuki rider exploring other options.
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With Joan Mir the heavy favorite to join Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda, it looks as though Honda will now get their hands on both Suzuki riders, as confirmed by Sky Italia.
The report continued: “Another hit of the market, that of Lucio Cecchinello who closed [agreed a deal] with Alex Rins. Also for the Italian manager this is an excellent choice considering the qualities and career of the Spanish rider.
With Pol Espargaro also in the running for an LCR Honda seat – that was prior to this report – it likely means Espargaro is out of Honda altogether as Ai Ogura is a potential replacement for Takaaki Nakagami. Idemitsu will be continuing as the lead sponsor for one of the two LCR bikes, meaning a Japanese rider is a near formality to be on the RC213V.
Gresini Ducati miss out on top MotoGP target…
With Gresini missing out on Oliveira, the satellite team will need to look elsewhere as Enea Bastianini will either join the factory Ducati team or Pramac.
A slice of good news for the team is that a new deal with Fabio Di Giannatonio is very close to being agreed.
Speaking after Sachsenring, Di Giannantonio told MotoGP.com: “Everybody is waiting for the post on Instagram [laughs]. Let’s see. The truth is that we are really close to signing a deal.”
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