Big news from the WorldSBK paddock. Jack Miller is confirmed to leave MotoGP at the end of 2026 and embark on a new adventure with Yamaha in the Superbike championship. The Australian rider has signed a two-year contract, replacing Xavi Vierge, who will not be retained by the Iwata factory.
Miller is no stranger to racing at the highest level. His career took off after an impressive showing in the German 125cc championship in 2011, leading to a grand prix debut the following year. In 2014, he narrowly missed the Moto3 title with six wins and ten podiums for Red Bull KTM Ajo, finishing as runner-up behind Alex Marquez.
His aggressive, no-compromise style convinced Honda to hand him a direct MotoGP promotion in 2015 via LCR – an unusual move, as most riders typically progress through Moto2 first. Two years later, Miller claimed his maiden premier-class victory in a legendary wet race at Assen, showcasing his extraordinary skill on a slippery track.
His career continued with Pramac Ducati in 2018, where he collected nine podiums over three seasons. Then, when Francesco Bagnaia moved up to the factory team, Miller followed suit and stayed until 2022. During his two years in red, he won three races and regularly fought at the front. However, his stint at KTM in 2023 did not go smoothly; he suffered many crashes and struggled to adapt, before moving to Pramac Yamaha in 2025, with a best result of fourth in the Phillip Island sprint.
A New Chapter in WorldSBK
Miller expressed his excitement about the new challenge. “I'm very excited to announce that I'm joining Yamaha in WorldSBK, extending our collaboration. I've really enjoyed working with this brand in MotoGP and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to see what we can achieve with the R1,” he said. Although the WorldSBK-spec bike differs from what he experienced at Suzuka, Miller is optimistic about achieving great things with Yamaha.
WorldSBK is not unfamiliar territory for him. In 2021 and 2022, he competed in a few races with Ducati. Additionally, over the past two seasons, he was part of the team that finished as runner-up in the 8 Hours of Suzuka for the Iwata factory, demonstrating his ability to adapt to production motorcycles.
Yamaha management warmly welcomed the charismatic rider. Niccolo Canepa, Yamaha's sporting director, expressed his delight at welcoming Miller to the WorldSBK project in 2027. For Yamaha, Miller's presence is expected to bring a new spirit and competitive results amid the intense competition in WorldSBK.
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