Liberty Media could now help Jack Miller stay on the MotoGP grid after taking over from Dorna

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Jack Miller’s sporting case to keep his Pramac seat for the 2026 season isn’t entirely solid. While he’s outperformed teammate Miguel Oliveira, his form has suffered lately.

Miller is 7-0 up on Oliveira in qualifying and also leads 6-2 in the races both have finished. But he’s only scored four points in the last three weekends.

That matches his teammate, who says he’s now reached full fitness after a four-race injury absence. Miller has clearly had the upper hand, but his advantage may not be large enough to justify axing an under-contract rider.

Oliveria isn’t meeting a performance clause in his deal – he’s required to be among the top three Yamaha riders – but allowances will be made for his fitness. Miller started the year strongly but he’s done little to strengthen his case in the weeks following the Toprak Razgatlioglu announcement.

Pramac have major commercial incentives to keep Jack Miller for 2026

Speaking on The Race MotoGP podcast, journalist Simon Patterson suggested commercial factors would weigh heavily in Miller’s favour as Yamaha consider who should fill the final spot in their roster.

Oliveira is the only Portuguese rider on the grid, but Patterson says this market holds little weight in the paddock. By contrast, Miller has become the de facto representative of not only his native Australia, but also the United Kingdom and United States.

For that reason, Liberty Media may value his presence on the grid after they completed their deal to purchase the sport from Dorna. Just under 34,000 fans attended the race in Phillip Island last year, but the circuit has a capacity of 92,000.

“Commercially, Miller makes more sense, both because he’s Jack Miller and because he’s an Australian rider at a time when that is a struggling market,” Patterson said. “No-one in MotoGP really cares about the Portuguese market the way they care about the Australian market, or by extension the British market.

“Jack Miller is one of the grid’s only native English speakers. Miller has taken over from Cal Crutchlow. He’s the lead, outspoken English speaker who appeals to British, American, Australian fans.

“I think that, commercially, there’s a need for something like that, especially going into a Liberty era. And also, Jack Miller versus Toprak as teammates is going to be like having a round of the World Stunt Championship every weekend!”

Yamaha could compromise by giving Jack Miller another one-year deal then saying goodbye

There is a scenario where neither Miller nor Oliveira stays on the grid. Yamaha are interested in Diogo Moreira, the Moto2 high-flyer.

The Japanese manufacturer want new partners Pramac to promote young talent, but both their current riders are over 30, and Toprak Razgatlioglu be 29 by the time he makes his debut.

It’s possible that Yamaha will give Miller another one-year deal and then move him aside for Moreira in 2027. At that stage, there will be more vacancies available elsewhere in the pit lane for the four-time race-winner.

Miller is attracting interest from World Superbikes teams, but has little interest in leaving MotoGP for the moment.