Jorge Martin has welcomed the possibility of Miguel Oliveira joining Aprilia as a test rider after the Portuguese rider lost his Pramac Yamaha seat for 2026. With no full-time MotoGP opportunities left, Oliveira is considering a shift to WorldSBK with BMW or Yamaha, but a test and wild-card role at Aprilia, where he previously raced, remains on the table.
Martin said having two test riders could be beneficial for Aprilia as MotoGP prepares for the transition to 850cc machines in 2027. He noted that data sharing between multiple riders would help speed up development, citing his own experience working alongside Marco Bezzecchi in the past.
While Lorenzo Savadori continues as Aprilia’s main test rider, Martin believes Oliveira’s recent race experience and versatility make him an ideal addition. Other manufacturers like KTM, Yamaha, and Honda already employ multiple test riders, while Ducati relies mostly on Michele Pirro.
Meanwhile, Somkiat Chantra is also expected to move to WorldSBK with Honda alongside Jake Dixon in 2026.
