Marco Bezzecchi
Jack Miller is practically ‘guaranteed’ to be on the MotoGP grid next year, Spanish journalist Mela Chercoles says. 2026 is a contract year for Miller, as it is for most of the field.
Miller was in the same boat last season but he saw off competition from teammate Miguel Oliveira to earn an extension. This season, he partners three-time World Superbikes champion and MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu.
The Australian ranked second among the four Yamaha riders in the 2025 standings, but Fabio Quartararo was 122 points up the road in ninth. Miller, Alex Rins and Oliveira all ranked between 17th and 20th.
Predict the order of the Yamaha riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
The first wave of moves is thought to be nearing completion, with Quartararo (Honda), Pedro Acosta (Ducati), Jorge Martin (Yamaha), Francesco Bagnaia (Aprilia) and Alex Marquez (KTM) all involved. Miller may be one of the riders who is made to wait.
Jack Miller’s ‘Australian passport will save him again’
Last year, it briefly looked as if Miller was going to lose his seat to Moto2 contender Manuel Gonzalez.
However, Yamaha’s Japanese bosses saved Miller when the Italian management wanted to press on with the Gonzalez deal.
MotoGP pundit Ramon Forcada recently argued that Miller would be ‘back home’ without his Australian passport. Chercoles says it will ‘save him’ in the 2027 market.
But colleague Borja Gonzalez pointed out that Miller will offer vital continuity. Luca Marini could replace Rins and become Martin’s factory teammate, while Razgatlioglu will still be relatively new to MotoGP in 12 months.
Has Jack Miller’s MotoGP career been better or worse than you expected?
Gonzalez said: “The one who was saved by a bit of a miracle last year was Jack Miller, right? That’s just a little in doubt.
Chercoles replied: “Listen, Miller is guaranteed 2027. His Australian passport will save him again. The Australian GP will change from Phillip Island to Adelaide and Jack Miller will be there unless there’s a surprise.
“Not forgetting that they are very happy with him,” Gonzalez interjected. “Yamaha need riders who know how to work well on the bike. They will only have one who knows it perfectly, which is Miller.”
Could Senna Agius join Jack Miller on the 2027 MotoGP grid?
Miller has already been involved in promoting the new Australian Grand Prix destination, which highlights his commercial importance.
While he called Phillip Island ‘extremely special’, Miller believes MotoGP’s move to Adelaide is ‘amazing’ for the sport and his homeland.
Some of MotoGP’s greatest riders are from Australia but Miller has been the nation’s only full-time representative since Remy Gardner’s 2022 exit.
Senna Agius is on the radar of MotoGP teams, though, and could be in line for a promotion if he can compete for the Moto2 title this year. He enjoyed his best year in the class last season when he finished 10th.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
