Yamaha are now considering offering Diogo Moreira a seat on the 2026 MotoGP grid while they decide satellite riders Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira’s futures at Pramac.
The Iwata squad are yet to decide who will ride beside Toprak Razgatlioglu next season after convincing the two-time World Superbikes champion to move to MotoGP. Miller is the most at risk of the axe, having only signed a one-year factory Yamaha contract to race for Pramac.
But while Oliveira signed a two-year works Yamaha contract to also join Pramac this season, the Portuguese is not meeting a performance clause that will let the Japanese manufacturer release him. Yamaha can release Oliveira if he is their lowest-scoring rider at the end of July.
Oliveira needs a miracle weekend at the Czech Grand Prix to prevent his release clause from becoming available to Yamaha. The 30-year-old has only earned six points so far this term to Fabio Quartararo’s 87, Miller’s 46 and Alex Rins’ – the only rider whom he can overtake – 41.
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty ImagesManuel Gonzalez should be ‘at the front’ of Yamaha’s plans over signing Diogo Moreira
It is also not a straight shootout between Miller and Oliveira to stay at Pramac next term, as Yamaha are considering signing Moreira and Manuel Gonzalez for the 2026 MotoGP season. The Moto2 duo’s rise as firm options has delayed Yamaha’s decision until the end of August.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jack Miller from net worth to wife
It has also been suggested that a seat in the Iwata outfit’s factory line-up could be available, but Yamaha have denied that Miller could replace Rins in 2026. If Yamaha do shop in Moto2 for Razgatlioglu’s teammate, however, Neil Hodgson is convinced that it should be Gonzalez.
But while Gonzalez leads the 2025 Moto2 championship after 11 rounds by nine points over Aron Canet and 44 over Moreira in third, Hodgson fears the Dynavolt Intact GP racer faces a problem being Spanish. Gonzalez has also taken four race wins, two more than anyone else.
Hodgson said on TNT Sports 2 (18/07, 13:02): “You’d put this man at the front of the field if you’re going to pick someone to move up to MotoGP… There’s definitely a few young guns coming through.
“Barry Baltus is having a fantastic season, Deniz Oncu is making steps in the right direction. What’s going against Gonzalez or Aron Canet, second in the championship, is the passport, both being Spanish riders. We don’t need any more Spanish riders in MotoGP right now.”
Yamaha think Diogo Moreira could be huge for the Brazilian market
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Hodgson could have a point in Gonzalez’s hopes for a promotion to MotoGP being held back by the 22-year-old being Spanish. Yamaha are interested in Moreira as he can be huge in the Brazilian market, and have already signed a partnership with him via their Brazilian division.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pramac from the MotoGP team’s riders to bike
Moreira recently became the first Brazilian rider to win a Moto2 race with his victory in the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at the TT Circuit Assen. Yet his results have drawn wider interest, as Honda could sign Moreira for their factory 2026 line-up with Aprilia and Ducati also on alert.
Gonzalez, Miller and Oliveira might find out soon if Moreira is a threat for the final Yamaha bike at Pramac. The 21-year-old from Sao Paulo is expected to decide his future during the summer break which follows the Czech GP. The season resumes in Austria on August 15-17.