Jack Miller Switches From MotoGP to Pata Yamaha WorldSBK
Australian rider Jack Miller will leave MotoGP after 11 seasons to join the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in the World Superbike championship on a two-year deal
Jack Miller is moving from MotoGP to the World Superbike championship. The Australian has signed a two-year contract to race for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team starting in the 2027 season.
Miller's switch ends an 11-season stint in the premier Grand Prix class. He was one of several MotoGP riders left without a seat for the coming season. He will now bring what the source describes as "top of the line talent and a burst of new energy" to the Yamaha WorldSBK effort.
A Career Built on Rapid Progress
Miller's professional journey began with a breakout year in 2011. He won the German IDM 125cc championship that season, securing one race win and seven podium finishes. That performance earned the then 16-year-old a full-time Moto3 seat with Honda for the 2012 season.
His progression through the junior class was swift. After finishing 23rd in the championship in his debut year, he improved to 7th in 2013. A move to Red Bull KTM Ajo for 2014 yielded his best result: runner-up in the Moto3 world championship. That season he took six wins and ten podiums, narrowly losing the title to Alex Marquez.
The Leap to MotoGP and Factory Rides
His strong Moto3 showing prompted an unusual career move. Miller skipped the Moto2 category entirely, jumping straight into MotoGP with the LCR Honda team for 2015. After a debut season focused on growth, he moved to the Marc VDS Racing Team in 2016. It was there he claimed his first premier-class victory, winning a rain-affected Dutch TT at Assen after starting from 18th on the grid.
Miller subsequently rode for several major manufacturers. His career path included a switch to Ducati with Pramac Racing in 2018, a two-year stint with the factory Ducati team from 2021, two years with the Red Bull KTM factory squad, and most recently, two seasons back with the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team. Across his MotoGP career, he accumulated four race wins and 23 podium finishes.
Ambitions for a New Chapter in WorldSBK
The rider says he is excited for the new challenge. Miller stated he is "extremely grateful for the opportunity to see what we can do on the R1." He referenced prior experience with the Yamaha superbike platform, noting, "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 and hopefully we can do something really strong over there."
Yamaha officials also expressed strong enthusiasm for the signing. Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Sporting Manager Niccolo Canepa said the chance to bring in a rider of Miller's "experience and talent" was "too good to miss." Canepa highlighted Miller's Grand Prix experience and knowledge of Michelin tires as valuable technical assets. He also pointed to the rider's personality and international profile as benefits for boosting the championship's visibility.
The team hopes Miller's arrival will help return the Yamaha package to winning ways. The source notes the manufacturer has faced "an uphill battle" in recent seasons. Miller's hunger to win and his encouraging presence are seen as key building blocks for the future.
