ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has signed Brad Binder as a factory rider for the 2027 FIM Superbike World Championship season.
Binder will race the BMW M 1000 RR alongside Miguel Oliveira, reuniting riders who were previously teammates in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP.
BMW has not disclosed the length or financial terms of Binder’s contract. The manufacturer describes the move as beginning with the 2027 season rather than confirming a fixed end date.
A new championship after seven MotoGP seasons
The South African rider entered MotoGP in 2020 and will move to WorldSBK after seven seasons in the premier grand prix category. BMW credits him with two MotoGP victories and nine additional podium finishes.
Binder won the Moto3 world championship in 2016 before progressing through Moto2 to MotoGP. His WorldSBK switch will require adaptation to a production-derived motorcycle, a different tyre package and the championship’s race-weekend format.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport head Sven Blusch said Binder wants to fight for the WorldSBK title and described the pairing with Oliveira as having strong potential. Those are the team’s expectations, not a performance guarantee, and BMW did not publish a testing schedule or competitive targets with the signing.
Petrucci’s current role ends after 2026
The appointment also defines a change to BMW’s current rider line-up. Danilo Petrucci’s place in the WorldSBK project will end after the 2026 season, although BMW says it is exploring other ways to continue working with him.
No alternative programme for Petrucci has been confirmed. The announcement therefore establishes Binder and Oliveira as BMW’s 2027 WorldSBK pairing while leaving any separate role for Petrucci unresolved.
Oliveira’s continuation was announced on 3 September, making Binder’s signing the second part of the manufacturer’s 2027 rider plan. The two have already worked together across multiple grand prix categories, but their effectiveness on the M 1000 RR will depend on testing, development and adaptation to WorldSBK.
The confirmed business decision is a factory-rider appointment and a completed 2027 team pairing. Contract duration beyond the start of 2027, salary, testing dates and wider programme changes remain undisclosed.