Honda is effectively interested in securing Miguel Oliveira’s services with a view to 2024 and is «seducing him» with a factory seat, who sees this as the only possibility on the table to have such an opportunity next year, something that is not now possible with Aprilia as he explained.
Yesterday Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, clarified to GPOne that a possible clause allowing Oliveira to leave Aprilia in the event of an offer for a team with a factory seat – which is precisely what Honda would be willing to offer – doesn’t exist, recalling: ‘There is no such clause for Miguel. Besides, as he’s practically a «factory» rider, he has a contract directly with us’.
However, the portuguese rider, who said that ‘anything’ is possible when commenting on his future today in Mandalika, explained once again that he will only be able to ride for a factory team again, in the Aprilia universe, from 2025:
– It’s true that Aprilia has the right to offer me a factory seat for 2025 and 2026, not 2024. It’s not bad at all [laughs].
It’s certain that the rumours will continue in the near future, on a day when Gresini Racing confirmed what «everyone already knew»: Marc Marquez will be rider for 2024.