How Alex Rins responded to whispers that Jack Miller could replace him at Yamaha in 2026

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Jack Miller has returned from the summer break without clarity from Yamaha on his MotoGP future. Miller’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Pramac teammate Miguel Oliveira signed a two-year deal when he joined from Trackhouse, but it’s been widely reported that Oliveira has failed to meet a performance clause after an injury-disrupted start to the season. That makes both riders vulnerable after the signing of Toprak Razgatlioglu.

To complicate the picture further, rumours have emerged in recent weeks that Miller could replace Alex Rins at the factory team. The Australian has been Yamaha’s second-best rider behind franchise star Fabio Quartararo.

Rins has only scored 10 points fewer, but there appears to be some dissatisfaction over his performance levels. He’s only had one top-10 finish all season – Sprint or Grand Prix – and that’s allegedly why his contract could be terminated.

Yamaha may have made Alex Rins contract realisation after firm Austrian Grand Prix statement

Journalist David Emmett, on the ground at the Austrian Grand Prix, offered an update on Yamaha’s plans. He stressed that the decision can’t be made on results alone, with contractual obligations to navigate.

When Rins was asked about the speculation, he clarified that he expected Yamaha to honour his two-year contract. That could indicate that the Japanese manufacturer have reviewed his contract and found that they’d have to pay him off.

Rins reportedly earns £1.8m per year at Yamaha, so that would be a major outlay at a time when development costs are likely higher than ever. On the other hand, promoting Miller would please sponsors.

“Alex Rins was asked about this,” Emmett said on the Paddock Pass podcast. “There are vague rumours floating around – and they are nothing more than vague rumours – that Alex Rins could be replaced, Jack Miller could take Alex Rins’ place and Alex Rins could be out.

“He basically said, ‘I signed a two-year deal with Yamaha and I expect to be here next year’. I wonder if part of the problem is that Yamaha have gone back and looked at Alex Rins’ contract again and found that actually it’s going to be extremely expensive and/or difficult to get rid of him, and so that has meant more shuffling around with things like Miguel Oliveira’s contract.

“These are all details that we’re just not going to be party to. It’s likely that the decision is more contract-based, rather than anything else.”

Yamaha still likely to field ‘one of’ Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira in final seat

Rins’ camp are said to be concerned, but the rider projected confidence at the Red Bull Ring. Dorna journalist Louis Suddaby thinks it’s still a head-to-head between Miller and Oliveira.

One senses that Miller might have the edge given his superior record. He leads his teammate 18-2 in the competitive sessions where both have been classified.

But it’s clear that he hasn’t received any assurances. That’s why Miller sounded anxious about his future in his own media session on Thursday.

“There’s so much talk off-track in terms of what the Yamaha puzzle is going to look like across the four bikes next season,” Suddaby said. “Alex Rins is under contract, but there are still one or two whispers as to whether he’ll see that out.

“They’re trying to put those pieces of the rider line-up together. You feel like it’s going to be one of Jack and Miguel, as much as there are questions about Alex Rins. You feel like they’re battling it out for one more seat at Yamaha.”