Danilo Petrucci has contested his final WorldSBK races for BMW Motorrad, at the 2026 season finale in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Results were difficult for the German team, but Miguel Oliveira’s tenth place in the last race secured third for BMW in the Manufacturers’ World Championship.

A send-off on the paddock stage

The last round of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) was about more than results for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. Danilo Petrucci, the Italian rider known to fans as “Petrux”, rode the #9 BMW M 1000 RR for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team for the last time.

On Saturday evening, the team and the fans gathered on the main stage of the WorldSBK Paddock Show to say goodbye to a rider BMW describes as a popular fan favourite. Petrucci’s own results in Jerez were modest. He finished 17th in Race 1, 19th in the Superpole Race and 20th in Race 2. He ends the season 17th in the riders’ standings with 61 points.

“For me, it’s been a dream to race with the biggest factory in Europe. The outcome hasn’t been as good as we all had hoped for, but everyone gave their best. I’m so proud of what we did.” – Danilo Petrucci

A tough final weekend for Oliveira

Miguel Oliveira’s weekend started on the back foot. He qualified 13th in Superpole and then retired from Saturday’s Race 1 with a technical problem. In Sunday morning’s ten-lap Superpole Race he finished 11th. In the afternoon’s Race 2 he climbed into the top ten.

His tenth place, 28.002 seconds behind the winner, was enough to secure third place for BMW in the manufacturers’ classification. BMW finished on 184 points, just one point ahead of Yamaha on 183. Oliveira ends the year 11th in the riders’ championship with 142 points.

“We leave Jerez on a positive note, because we tried something today that was very positive for race two,” Oliveira said. He added that he is “very excited to start winter testing”.

Ducati sweep the finale

At the front, Ducati dominated. Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took Superpole and won all three races. He also set a new lap record of 1:37.196 in the Superpole Race. Bulega ends the season as champion on 726 points, 163 clear of his team-mate Iker Lecuona. Ducati riders took the top four places in the final riders’ standings.

The manufacturers’ table shows how large Ducati’s advantage was. Ducati scored 744 points, while second-placed Bimota scored 316. BMW, Yamaha and Kawasaki were separated by only 19 points behind them.

A season of highs and lows

BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s management called 2026 an emotional season. Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport Sven Blusch pointed to podium finishes, but also to serious injuries to both Oliveira and Petrucci that, he said, had a massive impact on the season.

“It is a shame that we were not as successful together in WorldSBK as we had hoped. But we are all racers and know that these things can happen. He will always remain part of our family – Grazie, Danilo!” said Blusch.

Technical Director Christian Gonschor said the team did not reach its goal of winning races. He argued that its performance was often better than the results suggest: “In many races, we were faster than in 2025.”

What comes next

BMW will race in 2027 with Oliveira and new signing Brad Binder. According to Gonschor, the 2027 season will also bring a new bike and new regulations, which he believes will create new opportunities for the team.

Facts: BMW at the 2026 Jerez finale

  • Superpole: Oliveira 13th (1:38.312), Petrucci 15th (1:38.392)
  • Race 1 (20 laps): Petrucci 17th, Oliveira DNF (technical issue)
  • Superpole Race (10 laps): Oliveira 11th, Petrucci 19th
  • Race 2 (20 laps): Oliveira 10th, Petrucci 20th
  • Final riders’ standings: Oliveira 11th (142 pts), Petrucci 17th (61 pts), Michael van der Mark 20th (23 pts)
  • Final manufacturers’ standings: 1. Ducati 744, 2. Bimota 316, 3. BMW 184, 4. Yamaha 183

The Jerez round was the 36th and final race of the 2026 WorldSBK season. BMW’s 2027 line-up pairs Oliveira with Brad Binder.

Source: www.press.bmwgroup.com