News Summary
- Yamaha Motor Europe sporting manager Niccolò Canepa said the chance to sign Jack Miller for WorldSBK was “too good to pass up”.
- Miller will leave MotoGP at the end of 2026 and join Yamaha’s official World Superbike project on a two-year deal.
- Yamaha expects Miller’s Grand Prix and Michelin experience to help develop the YZF-R1 as he begins a new chapter in his career.
Yamaha believes the opportunity to bring Jack Miller into its World Superbike project was “too good to pass up”, with sporting manager Niccolò Canepa celebrating the Australian’s two-year agreement with the Japanese manufacturer.
Yamaha announced on Tuesday (8) that Miller will leave MotoGP at the end of the 2026 season and move to the World Superbike Championship in 2027. The Australian will remain with Yamaha but will make the switch from the YZR-M1 to the YZF-R1.
Canepa said Yamaha was particularly attracted by Miller’s experience at the highest level of motorcycle racing and his knowledge of Michelin tyres, which he has used throughout his MotoGP career.
“We are immensely excited to welcome Jack Miller to Yamaha’s World Superbike project in 2027 and, personally, I am very happy to have him in our team,” Canepa said. “The opportunity to bring a rider with his experience and talent into our official team was too good to pass up, and we are already looking forward to the first tests.”
Miller already has experience with Yamaha machinery outside MotoGP. The Australian produced strong results with the R1 at the Suzuka 8 Hours, giving Yamaha an early indication of what he could bring to the WorldSBK-specification machine.
“His GP experience, and particularly the experience he has with Michelin tyres, will be extremely valuable to us,” Canepa explained. “He has already achieved strong results with the R1 at Suzuka, so we are excited to see what he can do with a World Superbike-specification bike and what he can contribute to the continued development of the R1.”
The move also gives Yamaha a rider with considerable international recognition. Canepa believes Miller’s personality and profile can help strengthen the manufacturer’s presence in WorldSBK while bringing additional attention to the championship.
“Besides the technical side, Jack’s personality and international profile will also be a great asset to strengthen Yamaha’s presence and bring even more attention to the World Superbike Championship,” he added. “We are very much looking forward to starting this chapter together.”
Miller stays with Yamaha after MotoGP exit
Miller joined Yamaha’s MotoGP project for the 2025 season after losing his factory Ducati seat at the end of 2024. He will now remain part of the Yamaha family beyond MotoGP, but his focus will shift to the R1 and the World Superbike championship.
The agreement also gives Yamaha continuity between its MotoGP and WorldSBK programmes. Miller’s experience developing and racing prototype machinery, combined with his previous R1 experience, could make him an important reference for the production-based project.
For Miller, the move represents a new phase after more than a decade in Grand Prix racing. The Australian made his MotoGP debut in 2015 and has competed for Honda, Ducati, KTM and Yamaha during his premier-class career.
His experience includes Grand Prix victories and extensive knowledge of the Michelin MotoGP tyres that will also be relevant to his transition into WorldSBK. Yamaha now wants to see how quickly that experience can translate to the R1 in a different technical environment.
Miller’s MotoGP campaign continues this weekend at Misano, where the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix will take place from September 11-13. The event is the 14th round of the 2026 season.
The Australian will therefore have several more MotoGP weekends with Yamaha before turning his attention fully to the WorldSBK project. For Canepa and the manufacturer, however, anticipation is already building around the first opportunity to put Miller on the R1 in his new role.
FAQ
When will Jack Miller move to WorldSBK?
Miller will leave MotoGP at the end of the 2026 season and join Yamaha’s official World Superbike project for 2027.
How long is Jack Miller’s Yamaha WorldSBK deal?
Miller has signed a two-year agreement with Yamaha for the 2027 and 2028 World Superbike seasons.
Why is Yamaha interested in Jack Miller for WorldSBK?
Yamaha values Miller’s experience in MotoGP, his knowledge of Michelin tyres and his previous experience with the YZF-R1, including strong performances at the Suzuka 8 Hours. The manufacturer also believes his international profile can raise Yamaha’s visibility in WorldSBK.
