Aiming to Be Yamaha’s Top Rider, Jack Miller Confident Entering MotoGP’s New V4 Era With 2027 in Sight
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| Aiming to Be Yamaha’s Top Rider, Jack Miller Confident Entering MotoGP’s New V4 Era With 2027 in Sight. |
Jack Miller isn’t holding back as MotoGP heads into a new chapter. The Australian rider has set a clear and ambitious goal: become the best Yamaha rider in MotoGP by 2026, while securing his place with the Japanese manufacturer ahead of the new 850cc era in 2027.
Miller shared his optimism during the Pramac Yamaha team launch on Tuesday night. Fresh off a winter break back home in Australia, he said he’s returning to the paddock recharged and fully focused on the season ahead.
“It’s been a really good winter — or summer for me back in Australia,” Miller told Sky Italia. “Being at home, working with a new trainer, and staying fully focused on preparing as well as possible for the new season has been great.”
The move to Yamaha’s new V4 engine marks a major shift, and Miller sees it as an exciting opportunity rather than a risk.
“It’s a new challenge with the V4, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do with this bike. My first impression was positive, even though there’s still a lot of development to do. That’s what the tests in Malaysia and Thailand are for.”
In his first season with Yamaha, Miller finished as the second-best M1 rider among four Yamaha competitors. However, he still ended the championship eight positions and 122 points behind factory leader and former world champion Fabio Quartararo.
That gap, Miller believes, was partly due to experience. Quartararo had spent all seven of his MotoGP seasons riding Yamaha’s inline-four machine, giving him a deep understanding of its characteristics. With the switch to a V4, that advantage is expected to disappear.
“The playing field is more level now,” Miller said. “The first goal is to understand exactly where we are with the new bike. But my clear target at the moment is to be the best Yamaha rider. If we can do that, we’ll be in a very good position.”
That mindset also ties into Miller’s long-term plans in MotoGP.
“My goal is to stay with Yamaha and be on the grid in 2027 when the new regulations come into effect,” he confirmed.
Miller brings valuable experience to Yamaha’s V4 project. He is a MotoGP race winner with Honda and Ducati and a podium finisher with KTM — all achieved on V4-powered machines. That background could prove crucial as Yamaha accelerates development.
Beyond the bike itself, Miller highlighted the importance of continuity within the team.
“Starting a new season with the same crew feels really good,” he said. “Continuity matters a lot in this paddock. Coming back into the garage knowing the people, the work ethic, and the direction makes a big difference.”
Looking back on last year, Miller described it as a true learning phase.
“Last season was a proper learning year with Yamaha. We had some strong moments and worked through some tough ones, but in the end we built a solid foundation together. I genuinely enjoyed adapting and figuring things out as the season went on.”
With the V4 now confirmed as Yamaha’s race bike for the season, Miller feels a renewed sense of excitement.
“This feels like a fresh chapter. It’s an exciting project to be part of, and there’s a real belief behind it. I’m proud to continue with Prima Pramac Yamaha and excited to see how far we can take this.”
Miller will return to the track alongside fellow Yamaha riders at the Sepang Shakedown test from January 29 to 31, marking the first real step in Yamaha’s V4 journey ahead of the new MotoGP era.
