Jack Miller hoping to finish MotoGP career strong ahead of switch to WorldSBK

After 12 consecutive MotoGP seasons which saw him race to four Grand Prix victories, amass 23 podium finishes and go to the starting grid with Honda, Ducati and Yamaha, Jack Miller will set aside his Prima Pramac Yamaha YZR-M1 upon the conclusion of the 2026 season at the Valencia GP on November 29 and move over to the FIM Superbike World Championship for 2027.

During MotoGP's Qatar GP weekend, which Miller and Yamaha declined to compete in – Yamaha pulled its four factory bikes from the Qatar round, citing a companywide policy banning travel to the Middle East amidst security concerns – the rider spoke about just what is coming at him.

“We’re back in Australia at the moment," said Miller. "We finished up in Sepang, and obviously we were meant to go to Qatar and decided to boost it home. Hopefully, I’ll be racing at Portimao and Valencia barring what they do for penalties. Yamaha are going to have a penalty for sure because we are not participating this weekend. Just waiting [to hear] at the moment.”

With so much going on around him, Miller has made it an important point to focus on the here and now, and that means being all-in on the development of the M1.

"I feel good, it’s just trying to get used to this f---ing bike,” explained Miller of sorting out the M1. “We’re getting it working at some tracks and not at others. It’s real tough at the minute, you know what I mean? I’m just trying to help them out. Obviously, I’m working for Yamaha again next year with the Superbike project. I’m happy to try and help out as much as I can on the MotoGP side just to try and help them get a little bit closer to the front.”

Recently signing his name to a two-year contract with the Pata Maxus Yamaha factory team, 31-year-old Miller will soon take possession of a Yamaha YZF-R1 and look to the Superbike World Championship. Miller, heavily backed by Yamaha, will make his WorldSBK debut February 19-21 when the 12-round series opens up at the Philip Island Grand Prix Circuit in his home nation of Australia. About to call time on his prolific 12-year run in the premier MotoGP classification, Miller is taking it all in and absorbing the reality of his Grand Prix surroundings.

Miller's MotoGP career will draw to a close at the end of the 2026 season.

“It feels weird, honestly,” Miller explained. “I feel like one of those old rock bands that keeps going on a farewell tour because every time I’m at a Grand Prix, everyone is saying thank you and goodbye. Then you’re back again the next weekend doing the same shit. It’s kind of weird.

"I’m really looking forward to the next chapter, you know? I’m looking forward to getting on the Superbike and seeing what we can do over there. I absolutely think all of this will breathe a little bit of new life into me, hopefully. Have a second go at it and a second part of my career, if you will.

"Obviously, there will be expectations. For sure. There's a bit to prove, more so to myself than anything. I want to try and prove it to myself and try to show what I’m capable of over there on, hopefully, a little bit more competitive equipment.”

How familiar is Miller with the new Yamaha R1 he will line up on in WorldSBK?

“The World Superbike motorcycle, I have not [had] much to do with that. I’m curious for sure because it will be quite different from what we’ve been riding. There is a lot more freedom with it. There are a lot more changes that we can make and so on. I’m looking forward to getting on it and seeing what we can do. The biggest test is going to be when we have the first test on it in Valencia. We’ll really see where we are kind of standing with the whole project. We’ll see where they are at with the bike and where I’m at with the bike, and what improvements we need to make over the winter to hopefully hit the ground running when we get to Philip Island at the beginning of next year.

"I’m riding on December 9 and 10 in Valencia. Then I come home for a couple weeks, and then I’m back to Jerez in the middle of January to do another test there. We have a test there and a test in Portimao before we fly out to Philip Island for the first round. It’s kind of weird, you know? I [did one] last MotoGP race at Philip Island and then I’ll get to do the first World Superbike race there as well. I’m pretty excited.

"I have a great relationship with the guys over there at Yamaha, and going across to World Superbike with the same manufacturer, I’m really looking forward to that. They have some prestigious history over there. I think the R1 is a proven race winner. Next year, there should be some big changes in the rule department, so that should hopefully help us to try and be a little bit more competitive with those guys on the Ducatis and such.”

And why is Jack Miller going to the Superbike World Championship? Because he wants to win again.

“Absolutely. That’s the goal. The last couple of years, and there is no denying it, have been done on bikes that haven’t been really that competitive. I’m looking forward to getting on a piece of equipment that is a little bit more competitive. I can be on something I can have a bit more of a crack at trying to race against the guys at the front. I’m keen to make the jump.

"There is no shortage of talent. We’re just struggling with the equipment we are on. There is no hiding that. That’s a tough pill to swallow as a rider because you’re giving your all every weekend. I’m definitely looking forward to hopefully getting on something that is a little bit more competitive. You arrive to a race weekend knowing that you have a chance at trying to run with the guys at the front. I love riding motorbikes more than the next bloke, but I love racing motorbikes. I don’t like riding around in circles. At this point I still feel like I’ve got more left to give. I appreciate Yamaha for giving me the opportunity to show that we have much more potential.”