Jack Miller makes brilliant ‘blackmail’ comment about Yamaha as he fights for Pramac MotoGP seat

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Jack Miller’s audition for a 2026 Pramac seat continues at the Grand Prix of Italy this weekend. Miller knew he’d have to prove himself this year after signing a one-year deal with Paolo Campinoti’s team.

However, the threat is now more acute after Yamaha re-signed two-time World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu. Miller and Miguel Oliveira are now competing for the same seat.

It’s the second year in a row that the Australian’s place on the MotoGP grid has come under threat. He picked up the last available seat for 2025 after KTM let him go.

But Miller is relaxed about his MotoGP future, viewing this year as a bonus. He has a three-year offer on the table to join Honda’s World Superbikes team if Yamaha decide to let him go.

Jack Miller jokes about Yamaha’s V4 engine as MotoGP future uncertain

Oliveira admitted concern over his Pramac seat in an interview before the Mugello weekend. By contrast, Miller’s pre-race media sessions were typically light-hearted.

It’s the stage of the year where observers will start reading into the demeanour of the two riders. But no decision has been made just yet.

According to The Race’s Simon Patterson, Miller brilliantly joked on Thursday that ‘I went and sat on the V4 and took plenty of photos of it for blackmail’. The Japanese manufacturer, the last inline-four holdout on the grid, are developing a new engine.

Miller looked frustrated with the M1 amid a difficult weekend at Aragon as he finished 14th. But even lead rider Fabio Quartararo struggled (P11 in the Sprint, DNF in the race) on a circuit that didn’t suit the bike.

Yamaha have changed Jack Miller plans after signing Toprak Razgatlioglu

Initially, the thinking was that Yamaha would confirm Razgatlioglu’s teammate just before the summer break. That gave Miller and Oliveira four races to influence the decision.

However, there’s now talk that Yamaha have brought their decision forward. It could come between the Sachsenring and Brno back-to-back.

Oliveira’s two-year deal contains a performance clause requiring him to be one of the top three Yamaha riders in the standings. After an injury-hit start to the season, he’s been cut 28 points adrift.

Miller is level with Alex Rins on 31, while Quartararo has been in another league (59). The hope will be that Razgatlioglu can get closer to the Frenchman next year.