Marco Bezzecchi
Jack Miller was among the riders to call for a minimum salary in MotoGP, and the sport’s bosses have now listened.
Speaking last year, Miller said not every rider is ‘paid accordingly’ for the risks they take on a motorcycle.
And now, according to Motorsport.com, a proposal to set a minimum salary of €500k (£437k) from 2027 is in the ‘final stages’. As it stands, only LCR’s Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco, Pramac’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and the recently-renewed Marco Bezzecchi have deals for next year.
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Premier-class teams must pay their riders a base sum of at least €500k, rather than reaching that figure through bonuses. They will commit to doing so in their new agreement with MotoGP Sports Entertainment (previously known as Dorna).
Jack Miller has previously called for MotoGP to introduce minimum salary
Miller said he had spoken to MotoGP bosses about some of his colleagues being underpaid. Motorsport say there are riders at the top level earning less than €120k (£105k), a fraction of the new limit.
After F1 bosses Liberty Media acquired the sport, the expectation is that revenues will increase significantly, enabling some of the smaller teams on the grid to afford the higher wages.
While Miller recognised that his job is a privilege, he also pointed out that riders were doing themselves lasting damage, particularly given the frequency of injuries. Last year, 12 out of 22 full-time riders missed at least one event.
Is €500k a fair minimum salary for MotoGP riders?
“There needs to be at least a minimum sign-on,” Miller told the Gypsy Tales podcast. “Some of these guys are signing for next to nothing.
“It’s not only a full-time job, it’s a life. I believe if you’re risking your longevity – your body’s never going to be the same… don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic job and I would do it for free.
“You’re putting on a show for everybody and you’re doing these great things. You should be paid accordingly.”
How much is Jack Miller currently earning at Pramac Yamaha?
Miller has been a MotoGP rider since 2015 and has represented two factory teams in that time – Ducati (2021-22) and KTM (2023-24).
The 32-year-old was likely speaking up for young riders rather than pursuing his own interests when he pushed for the minimum salary.
Miller is believed to be earning £2.2m a year at Pramac, so the new rules are unlikely to impact him, assuming he stays on the grid for 2027.
Motorsport say that the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA) discussed the proposal at a meeting in Thailand on Tuesday and that the minimum salary proposal has reached the ‘final phase prior to ratification’.
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