Jack Miller’s time on the MotoGP grid may be near its end with Yamaha not expected to retain him for Pramac, yet the Australian’s time in the paddock could still continue.
Yamaha are widely believed to have already decided against offering Miller another contract to continue racing with their satellite outfit, Pramac, at the start of MotoGP’s 850cc era next season. Instead, the World Superbike Championship paddock may now await Miller in 2027.
Miller is on Ducati’s radar for a World Superbike ride next season, as the Italian brand target a replacement for Nicolo Bulega ahead of his expected switch to MotoGP with VR46. Ducati have now given Iker Lecuona a new contract to continue with their WSBK crew next season.
If not with Ducati, Miller could still move to World Superbikes with BMW in 2027, although he is not the German brand’s priority. Instead, BMW would prefer to sign Manuel Gonzalez over Miller or Brad Binder, who is also set to leave MotoGP once his contract with KTM expires.
How will Jack Miller be remembered as a MotoGP rider?
Jack Miller should realise Neil Hodgson’s belief that he’d make a ‘brilliant’ TV pundit
Other options in the World Superbike paddock could yet emerge for Miller ahead of his time in MotoGP coming to an end, with Yamaha due to sign Izan Guevara for Pramac. But retiring as a full-time rider and making the bold move to become a pundit would not be ridiculous.
READ MORE: The best moments of Jack Miller’s MotoGP career
Neil Hodgson, the 2003 World Superbike champion, believes Miller would make a “brilliant” pundit once the day comes that the 31-year-old retires. Sylvain Guintoli “100%” agrees with Hodgson that Miller would make a great pundit once he retires, too, given his personality.
Hodgson stated on Gas It Out: “I’ve got one there. [A] good one. He’d be b—– brilliant. Jack Miller. Imagine Jack as a pundit… He’d be fantastic, I think. I’d love to listen to him.”
Guintoli, the 2014 World Superbike champion, replied: “Yeah, 100% agree. Well, he’s a full character, and that’s what [you need] on TV.”
Now, Miller might feel like he has years left in him at the highest levels of motorcycle racing, so a switch to World Superbikes for 2027 would likely be more favourable than retiring from MotoGP and becoming a pundit. But if the right team is not available, he should consider it.
Michelin replacing Pirelli as the sole tyre provider to the World Superbike Championship in 2027 could offer riders like Miller an advantage by moving across from MotoGP. But Ducati are dominating the current era, and they will be expected to lead in the Pirelli tyre era, too.
Bulega is largely key to Ducati’s dominance, but Lecuona finished second to the Italian in 18 straight races before he won at Donington Park after getting to grips with the Panigale V4 R.
Yari Montella also ranks third in the World Superbikes standings with Barni Spark aboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R. Alex Lowes of Bimota is fourth in the standings as the best non-Ducati, but the Briton is 309 points behind Bulega, 176 shy of Lecuona and 29 away from Montella.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
