Neil Hodgson has cast doubt on the validity of Jack Miller’s positive statements about Yamaha’s V4 bike. Hodgson suspects that Miller is trying to preserve his job security.
Miller has consistently been one of the optimistic Yamaha spokesmen since testing the V4 for the first time last autumn. On the other end of the scale, Fabio Quartararo made angry gestures at his bike during the recent Buriram test.
Fellow factory rider Alex Rins has been locking himself away after test sessions to calm down before he faces the media.
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Miller has known when to stay silent, and consistently repeated the message that Yamaha are at the start of a long-term process, while praising the work ethic of the engineers. The Japanese manufacturer finally ditched their inline-four engine at the end of 2025.
Neil Hodgson doesn’t ‘trust’ Jack Miller’s positivity about Yamaha V4
Miller is out of contract at the end of the season and Hodgson, a ‘good friend’, says he is towing the ‘corporate line’ in the interests of his future.
He knows that offers are unlikely to arrive from elsewhere, so he needs to be play the PR game. The Australian has already switched six teams since his MotoGP debut in 2015.
While Ramon Forcada says Miller’s ‘passport’ is keeping him on the grid – he represents a key market – the team are known to value his contribution to development.
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“With everything that’s happening with contracts, Jack has got one real option, and that is to be the Yamaha man, tow the corporate line,” Hodgson explained.
“He’ll work his b—- off, we know what Jack’s like. He’s a grafter, he’s great at PR.
“He’s bright, he’ll play the game really well. He’s been in this paddock a long time. He gets it.
“Bearing in mind I’m good friends with Jack, I don’t trust what Jack says on that side of things. I feel like Jack’s just doing it perfectly.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu factory promotion would actually help Jack Miller
Quartararo is leaving Yamaha to join Honda at the end of 2026 – that is now an open secret. On the other side of the garage, Alex Rins is widely expected to depart.
That leaves two vacancies in Paolo Pavesio’s team. Miller isn’t a leading contender for Yamaha, with teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu more likely to be promoted if he meets expectations as a rookie.
Razgatlioglu is a bigger star than Miller after his success in World Superbikes and may be seen to have a higher ceiling.
Miller might actually welcome that move because it would theoretically reduce the pressure on his seat.
Jorge Martin’s move to Yamaha should be confirmed shortly, but uncertainty will persist over the other three spots in the roster.
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