The largest piece of the 2024 rider market puzzle fell into place on Thursday, with Marc Marquez confirming a switch from Repsol Honda to Gresini Racing. It means that the Japanese brand are now scrambling to find a replacement, with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) mooted as a leading candidate.

The Portuguese rider failed to quash the rumours either, stating that “anything can happen” on Thursday at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, while he alleged that comments made by Team Principal Razlan Razali denying the existence of a release clause were simply “not true.”

The Malaysian was quizzed about the possibility by MotoGP™ Pitlane reporter Jack Appleyard during Practice in Mandalika, and stated that Oliveira would be there next season, as there was no clause in his contract allowing him to leave to Honda.

"He has a contract with Aprilia, a solid one. So he will still be with us in 2024. There's no such thing as a clause that says that if he has a factory offer, he can leave Aprilia or RNF. There's no such thing. As far as we know, he's staying with us next year."

During his debrief with the media after the end of Friday’s runs, Oliveira was asked about Razali’s comments, to which he bluntly replied: "That's not true."

Whilst RNF Boss Razlan Razali did entertain the concept that anything can happen in MotoGP™, he remained very confident of keeping Oliveira in his team.

"He said to media anything is possible…Well, by saying that, yes, anything is possible, but as far as we are aware, he's with us next year."

Razali explained that there is currently no 'plan B' if Miguel does decide to part ways, but said "if it does happen, we want to be very heavily compensated with everything."

"As Miguel said in his interview, Honda approached him but Honda said it was Miguel that approached them. Then the story remains as crazy as always. That's what makes MotoGP exciting. That's just the way it is, I guess."

"Honda is a big manufacturer. They're a big company. It's only right for them to go and approach whoever they want to approach. Saying that we don't have a backup plan and it's Honda, they can go and knock on anyone's door and they have to do it because they're such a big brand. They need to rise up from where they are now, so I don't blame them for that approach."

With rider and boss seemingly at odds over a supposed clause in the contract, it feels like we haven’t heard the last of this one as Honda begin their search for Marc Marquez’ replacement.