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Fabio Quartararo thinks re-signing Jack Miller gives Yamaha one big advantage that he cannot match

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Fabio Quartararo is thrilled that Yamaha have given Pramac ace Jack Miller a one-year extension to his factory contract to stay a part of their rider stable in the 2026 season.

Miller faced an uncertain future and a potential move to the World Superbike Championship next term, as Yamaha deliberated over who should partner Toprak Razgatlioglu at Pramac in the 2026 MotoGP season. But the Japanese outfit finally tied the Australian down last week.

The 30-year-old’s reprieve with another term at Pramac means Miguel Oliveira will leave the satellite Yamaha team at the end of 2025, to make way for WSBK superstar Razgatlioglu next year. Yamaha have voided the second year of Oliveira’s contract, in favour of retaining Miller.

Yamaha have chosen to release Oliveira from the Portuguese’s deal at the end of this year as he is their lowest-scoring rider in 2025. Quartararo leads the way among the Yamaha fold on 129 points over Miller on 54, works teammate Alex Rins on 45 and Oliveira on only 17 so far.

Jack Miller celebrates his new Yamaha contract in the Pramac garage in Barcelona
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images

Fabio Quartararo hails the help Jack Miller offers Yamaha to improve their electronics

Quartararo also feels Miller offers Yamaha invaluable experience that the Frenchman cannot match, due to previously racing on Honda (2015-17), Ducati (2018-22) and KTM (2023-24) MotoGP bikes. Quartararo has spent his entire MotoGP career so far racing the Yamaha M1.

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

TEAMBIKERIDER 1RIDER 2
ApriliaAprilia RS-GPJorge MartinMarco Bezzecchi
TrackhouseAprilia RS-GPAi OguraRaul Fernandez
DucatiDucati DesmosediciMarc MarquezFrancesco Bagnaia
VR46Ducati DesmosediciFabio Di GiannantonioFranco Morbidelli
GresiniDucati DesmosediciAlex MarquezFermin Aldeguer
HondaHonda RC213VJoan MirLuca Marini
LCRHonda RC213VJohann ZarcoDiogo Moreira
KTMKTM RC16Pedro AcostaBrad Binder
Tech3KTM RC16Maverick VinalesEnea Bastianini
YamahaYamaha YZR-M1Fabio QuartararoAlex Rins
PramacYamaha YZR-M1Toprak RazgatlioglouJack Miller
Confirmed 2026 MotoGP rider line-ups

So, while Quartararo is desperate for Yamaha to improve their electronics, the 2021 MotoGP champion cannot tell the Iwata outfit how far away they are but Miller can. Quartararo even feels it will be particularly key for Miller to highlight where Yamaha fall short around Misano.

Quartararo said ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix, via quotes by Motorsport.com: “That’s why I think it was good to keep Jack for the future because, for me, it was always the same. I don’t know what the electronics are like on the KTM, the Aprilia, the Ducati or the Honda.

“For me, I feel like we’re still a long way off. But I don’t know if it’s 5%, 10% or 20%. It’s something we really need from Yamaha because, especially this track, in the test was very difficult for me.”

Fabio Quartararo admits Yamaha are ‘struggling’ with their electronics around Misano

Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo speaks to the media at Misano before the 2025 MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/LAT Images

Yamaha staged a private two-day test at Misano in May with their factory riders, Quartararo and Rins. Rain on the first of the two days hindered what the Japanese crew could carry out at the San Marino GP venue. But Yamaha would work on their electronics, chassis and aero.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats

What Yamaha learned at Misano this May has even seen Quartararo return to Rimini for the 2025 San Marino GP feeling optimistic about his chances this weekend. But the 26-year-old still fears how Yamaha’s electronics will influence their performance in both races at Misano.

Quartararo said: “I think expectations could be quite good. We did a test here, it went quite well [and] I felt very good.

“We have to work a lot on the electronics at this track, because we tested for two days and were still struggling with that. So, we need to take a big step in that regard.”

Quartararo finished seventh in the 2024 San Marino GP and also in the Emilia Romagna GP, as MotoGP staged two races at Misano last season. The Frenchman has not finished on the podium at Misano since he secured P2 in the 2021 San Marino GP in his title-winning term.