Neil Hodgson says there’s one thing that isn’t normal about the Jack Miller to Yamaha talk

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Despite setting a date for the summer break, Yamaha has yet to announce their decision regarding Jack Miller’s future in MotoGP.

Miller is the only Yamaha rider on the grid not to have a seat lined up for the 2026 season.

Pramac have announced that World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will be on one of them, and with Miguel Oliveira signed up until the end of 2026, options are running out for the Australian.

Miller declared his love for Yamaha ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, stating that he still has room to grow with the Japanese constructor after racing on one of their bikes for the first time in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in 2025.

According to reports, there is an ‘increasing possibility’ that Miller replaces Alex Rins at the factory Yamaha team following the latter’s struggles on the YZR-M1 during his second campaign with the squad.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Jack Miller from net worth to wife

Neil Hodgson notes how ‘incredibly loyal’ Yamaha are in regard to rider contracts

During FP1 of the Austrian Grand Prix race weekend, Neil Hodgson and Sylvain Guintoli were discussing the possibility of Miller replacing Rins at the factory Yamaha team next season.

“I’d be sort of surprised, he’s a factory Yamaha rider with a contract for next year,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports’ coverage of MotoGP about Rins (10:22 15/08).

“Unless there’s a clause in the contract, which they seem to be becoming more commonplace now, then if that is the case, then maybe.”

There could be a clause in the contract where he’s guaranteed to have a factory bike,” Guintoli theorised. “But you’d be surprised because normally with the Japanese manufacturers, you don’t see that, that much.”

Hodgson added, “They’re normally incredibly loyal.”

Guintoli followed it up with, “With movements, they’re very loyal with regard to contracts.”

Rins responded to rumours of Miller replacing him by stating the facts. He has a contract with Yamaha until the end of 2026, and he expects the constructor to honour that.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Rins from net worth to career stats

Sylvain Guintoli notes how Alex Rins has struggled with the factory Yamaha team in 2025

Former MotoGP rider Guintoli went on to note the credibility of the rumours linking Miller to Rins’ seat as very persistent, highlighting, “There’s not that much smoke without a bit of fire.”

“It’s true that Alex Rins has been struggling, and it’s difficult for him to be on the pace at the moment. He’s had a few good races, but then he has been struggling.

“He’s not done what Fabio Quartararo has been able to do to put that bike back on pole position or do some really strong results and some strong showings.

“Jack Miller got on with the Yamaha really well from the start of the season and was actually leading the effort very early on.

“He was really strong, putting some in strong laps very early on. You could see that he gelled with the M1 quite well.”

It has also been reported that Yamaha’s main sponsors would back the move to replace Rins with Miller, owing to the fact that the charismatic Australian is one of the ‘most marketable’ riders on the grid at the moment.