With Oliveꦇira confirmed to be leaving KTM after the team announced Jack Miller as Brad Binder’s team-mate for the 2023 MotoGP season, it had looked like a move to Gresini Ducati was on the cards.

• 2023 MotoGP World Championship rider line-up so far

But with RNF switching Yamaha for Aprilia next ye𝄹ar, it appears as though the Noale-based manufacturer has convinced the Portuguese rider, who is a four-time MotoGP race winner to join its satellite team on a two-year deal. 

In their report, Sky Italia said: "Aprilia scores a great market hit in view of 2023, Miguel Oliveira has in fact signed a two-year contract with theܫ Noale manufacturer to race in Razlan Razali's RNF satellite team.

"In recent weeks, the Portuguese rider had been very close to an agre♉ement with the Gresini team, however, he never actually formaꦍlized an economic proposal. 

"In addition to tꩲhe int🔯erest of the Gresini team, KTM had again shown interest in Oliveira who in the end chose the Aprilia project."

Aprilia ♕was thought of as the most likely destination for Rins, which in-turn played i🐲nto the belief that Ducati and Oliveira would carve out a deal. 

But with Aprilia makinಌg Oliveira an offer he could not refuse, that left the Suzuki rider expl𝓀oring other options.

With Joan Mir the heavy favourite to join Marc Marquez at Repsol Honda, it looks as though Honda will now get their hands on♕ both Suzuki riders, as confirmed by Sky Italia.

The report cont😼inued: "Another hit of the market, that of Lucio Cecchinello who closed [agreed a deal] with Alex Rins. Also f꧟or the Italian manager this is an excellent choice considering the qualities and career of the Spanish rider. 

With Pol Espargaro also iജn the running for an LCR Honda seat - that was prior to this report - it likely means Espargaro is out of Honda altogether as Ai Ogura is a potent♑ial replacement for Takaaki Nakagami. Idemitsu will be continuing as the lead sponsor for one of the two LCR bikes, meaning a Japanese rider is a near formality to be on the RC213V. 

Gresini Ducati miss out on top MotoGP target...

With Gresini missing out on Oliveira, the satellite team will need to look elsewhere as Enea Bastianini will eithe𝄹r join the fac🅠tory Ducati team or Pramac.

A slice of good news for the team is that a new deaꦚl with Fabio Di Giꦯannatonio is very close to being agreed. 

Sp💮꧙eaking after Sachsenring, Di Giannantonio told MotoGP.com: "Everybody is waiting for the post on Instagram [laughs]. Let’s see. The truth is that we are really close to signing a deal."