- Contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons with the official Yamaha team in World Superbike
- 15 years of Grand Prix racing, twelve of them in MotoGP, with four wins and 23 podiums
- His team-mate will be Andrea Locatelli, alongside whom Miller has already contested the Suzuka 8 Hours
Yamaha Motor Europe has officially confirmed the move. Jack Miller joins the factory team in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. For the 31-year-old, it is the first full switch from the Grand Prix paddock to a production-based racing series. Production-based means the motorcycles in World Superbike come from mass production and are converted for racing, whereas MotoGP uses pure prototypes that cannot be bought anywhere.
What does the move mean for Jack Miller’s career?
With this step, Miller ends an unbroken run of 15 years in Grand Prix racing, twelve of them in the premier class. He came straight from Moto3 to MotoGP in 2015, having finished runner-up in the smallest class behind Alex Marquez. A jump like that, skipping Moto2 entirely, has remained the exception to this day.
In MotoGP he rode for Honda, Ducati, KTM and Yamaha. He has won four races, one of them with the Marc VDS Honda team and three as a factory rider at Ducati. Add to that 23 podiums and one rostrum on the KTM. According to Yamaha, his best overall championship result was fourth place in 2021.
Miller spent the last two years at Prima Pramac Yamaha. There, according to the manufacturer, he was an important pillar above all in developing the new V4 machine. In the current 2026 season he sits 17th in the championship, yet is still the second-best Yamaha rider behind Fabio Quartararo. His best race result this year is an eighth place, and most recently at Silverstone and Aragon he was the fastest Yamaha rider on each occasion. His best result on the Yamaha overall remains fourth at his home sprint at Phillip Island last year.
Why did Yamaha choose Jack Miller?
Yamaha explains the signing with Miller’s experience, his pace on the R1 and his knowledge of Michelin tyres. Niccolò Canepa, Road Racing Sporting Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe and himself formerly active in MotoGP and World Superbike, says the opportunity was simply too good to pass up.
“The opportunity to bring a rider of his experience and talent into our official team was too good to miss, and we are already looking forward to the first tests.”
The tyre point has a concrete background. World Superbike switches from Pirelli to Michelin as its single supplier in 2027. Miller has been racing on Michelin in MotoGP since 2016 and therefore brings knowledge that almost nobody in the World Superbike paddock currently has. Canepa names exactly that as a factor of particular value to Yamaha. On top of that, from the manufacturer’s perspective, comes Miller’s public impact: his personality and international profile are expected to bring additional attention to the series and the brand.
How well does Miller already know the Yamaha R1?
Miller has already raced the R1 twice, on both occasions at the Suzuka 8 Hours for the Yamaha factory team. Together with Andrea Locatelli and veteran Katsuyuki Nakasuga he finished second in each of the last two editions. His pace on the production-based machine is considered one of the main reasons the contract came about.
One difference remains, however: at Suzuka, Miller rode on Bridgestone tyres, while World Superbike runs Michelin from 2027. The motorcycle itself is not identical either, because the WorldSBK version follows different technical rules than the machine used for the Japanese endurance race. Miller himself puts his experience so far into perspective accordingly.
“I have had a small taste of the bike at Suzuka the last couple of years, and while the WorldSBK-spec bike is a bit different I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my career.”
The category is not entirely new to him in any case. At the end of the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Miller contested individual Superbike races in the Australian championship, at that time on a Ducati. Alongside his World Superbike programme, a return to Suzuka is considered likely, as are possible test outings in MotoGP.
What happens to Xavi Vierge?
Xavi Vierge leaves Yamaha at the end of the 2026 season, freeing up the seat for Miller. The Spaniard moved from Moto2 to World Superbike in 2022, initially with Honda, and only joined the Pata Maxus Yamaha team at the start of this year. He currently sits 13th in the championship, directly behind team-mate Andrea Locatelli. According to media reports, he is being linked with a move to Barni Racing Ducati.
Team principal Paul Denning clearly regrets the departure. He says it is a great regret for him personally and for everyone in the team not to be able to head into the 2027 season with Vierge, and highlights his quick adaptation to the R1 as well as his pace and technical feedback. Canepa points to a difficult year and thanks Vierge for his commitment.
Where does Yamaha currently stand in World Superbike?
Yamaha is having a difficult 2026 season and has not won a race since the spring of 2025. The last victory went to Andrea Locatelli at Assen. This year, a fifth place is the best result on the books, with Locatelli twelfth in the standings.
Ducati dominates at the front. Nicolò Bulega has won every race but one, with the sole exception going to his team-mate Iker Lecuona at Donington. Bulega, for his part, moves up to MotoGP with VR46 Ducati in 2027. For Yamaha that means Miller arrives at a moment when the R1 has considerable ground to make up. Yamaha’s last World Superbike title dates back five years, won in 2021 by Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, currently Miller’s team-mate at Pramac in MotoGP. Before that, Ben Spies in 2009 was the series’ only other Yamaha champion.
Locatelli stays on board as team-mate. The Italian, 2020 Supersport world champion, has been part of the factory team since 2021 and enters the second year of his current two-year contract in 2027.
Miller is not the only move towards World Superbike
The rider market for 2027 is in motion, and Miller’s contract is only the first of several expected moves from MotoGP to World Superbike. Names mentioned include Brad Binder at BMW, Franco Morbidelli at Aruba.it Ducati and Alex Rins at Goeleven Ducati. Heading the other way is Bulega, promoted by Ducati to MotoGP.
Miller’s vacated seat at Prima Pramac Yamaha has also already been filled. Current Moto2 rider Izan Guevara takes it over. That points to a noticeable shake-up of the rider line-ups in both world championships for 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which team will Jack Miller ride for in WorldSBK?
From 2027, Jack Miller rides for the official Yamaha factory team in the Superbike World Championship. The contract runs for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. His team-mate will be Andrea Locatelli.
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When does Jack Miller move to World Superbike?
The move takes effect for the 2027 season. Miller sees out the current 2026 season with Prima Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP.
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How many MotoGP wins does Jack Miller have?
Miller has won four MotoGP races. One victory came with the Marc VDS Honda team, three as a factory rider at Ducati. He has also collected 23 podium finishes.
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Who replaces Jack Miller at Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP?
Izan Guevara takes over Miller’s seat at Prima Pramac Yamaha. The Spaniard is currently still racing in Moto2 and steps up to the premier class in 2027.
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Why is Xavi Vierge leaving the Yamaha team?
Yamaha and Xavi Vierge part ways after the 2026 season, which frees up the seat for Miller. Vierge only joined the team at the start of this year and currently sits 13th in the championship. According to media reports, he is being linked with Barni Racing Ducati.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
