Jack Miller Signs World Championship Deal

Australian rider Jack Miller has signed a two-year contract with the factory team of Yamaha by transitioning to the World Superbike Championship (WSBK). Miller decided to continue his partnership with the Japanese manufacturer by moving from his MotoGP career to the World Superbike Championship.

The 31-year-old rider finalized the deal after a lengthy negotiation process. This transition is a move from MotoGP to WSBK. Miller emphasized his goal of continuing to compete at the highest level during this process.

Details of Factory Team Involvement

Jack Miller contacted the factory teams in the World Superbike Championship. In the first stage, he surprised the teams with his high salary demands. However, facing reality, Miller's options narrowed, and BMW and Ducati closed the door. Only Yamaha's factory team, Pata, remained.

Everyone involved in Yamaha management was convinced that Miller could offer more than Xavi Vierge, who left the team for sporting reasons. It was stated that the marketing advantage of the global fanbase and worldwide recognition was significant.

Miller's Career History and Experience

The rider, nicknamed "Thriller," proved his ability during his 12-year MotoGP career. During this career, he secured four race victories in the main class and appeared on the podium 23 times. Miller finished fourth in the World Championship with the Ducati factory team in 2021.

Miller is not unfamiliar with the Superbike class based on mass-produced bikes. He has raced in Australian Championship competitions previously. Furthermore, in 2025 and 2026, he competed for Yamaha in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. In these races, he achieved second place alongside teammates Andrea Locatelli and Japanese rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga. He also participated with Honda in the event in 2017.

Miller's Statements

Jack Miller stated the following when evaluating his new step:

In their words

I am very happy to transition to the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha and to continue our partnership. I have greatly enjoyed working with Ducati in MotoGP and I am grateful for the opportunity to see what we can achieve on the R1. I have experienced a small taste of motorcycle racing in Suzuka over the years. Although the WorldSBK specification is slightly different, I look forward to the next chapter of my career and hope we can achieve great things.

Technical Director Niccolo Canepa highlighted the strategic value of the deal:

In their words

I am very happy about Jack joining our team. The opportunity to bring a rider with his experience and talent to our factory team was invaluable. We eagerly await the first test rides. His experience in Grand Prix, especially his knowledge of Michelin tires, will be extremely valuable to us. We are excited to see what he can achieve on the WorldSBK motorcycle and how he can contribute to further developing the R1. Beyond the technical aspects, Jack's personality and international profile will be a great gain for Yamaha, strengthening its presence and drawing more attention to the World Superbike Championship.

The MotoGP calendar runs until the end of November. Brad Binder and Franco Morbidelli, who are highly anticipated to transfer to the BMW and Ducati factory teams, respectively, will await the beginning of December for their first test rides on their new bikes. The 2025/2026 winter tests were negatively affected by heavy rain. The 2027 World Superbike Championship season will start on the Phillip Island track in Australia between February 19–21.

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• Archive: Yamaha Tests Chassis Balance at Misano Track (September 9, 2026)