Yamaha bows to Miller pressure as Aussie stays at Pramac for 2026

Jack Miller is set to stay at Pramac in 2026 alongside rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu, with Yamaha having finally made a decision on its satellite MotoGP team’s line-up at the expense of Miguel Oliveira, Autosport has learned.

While the official announcement will come in the next few days, Yamaha and Miller, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the season, closed a deal on Thursday ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. This came just hours after Miller had demanded the team make up its mind about 2026 fast.

The Queenslander will remain with Paolo Campinoti’s team until the end of 2026, Autosport understands.

The Iwata-based manufacturer is betting on the experience of the Australian rider, who in recent years has raced with Ducati (2018–2022) and KTM (2023–2024) machinery – both V4-powered prototypes. That aligns with Yamaha’s new project: The only manufacturer on the grid still using an in-line four engine is working on an all-new V4 bike for 2026.

On Thursday, Miller made it clear that if he did not receive a swift answer about his future, he would accept the offer he had “from other championships”. That supposed offer referred to BMW’s interest in making Miller the replacement for Razgatlioglu in its factory WorldSBK team.

The Australian’s statements prompted Yamaha executives into action. On Thursday afternoon, they met with the rider and his representative, Aki Ajo, in the Yamaha hospitality at Balaton Park. Autosport understands that in the meeting, Paolo Pavesio, Yamaha’s top executive, together with Gino Borsoi, Pramac’s team manager, offered Miller a renewal, which he accepted pending the signing of the contract.

This move will force Yamaha to trigger the performance clause contained in Miguel Oliveira’s contract. The Portuguese rider signed a ‘1+1’ deal last year that can be cut short if a minimum set of results is not achieved. In Oliveira’s case, these have not been met, partly due to injuries.

Another name that had surfaced in connection with the Pramac ride was Moto2 world championship leader Manu Gonzalez. However, sources close to the rider assured Autosport this Friday that although “some conversations with Yamaha took place”, the Spaniard will remain with his current team, Dynavolt Intact GP, in Moto2 in 2026.

Miller, who will turn 31 in January, is currently 17th in the standings with 52 points, 384 behind series leader Marc Marquez. His best result this season was a fifth place at the Americas GP at the end of March, while his worst was 18th at last Sunday’s Austrian GP, where all the Yamaha riders struggled badly, occupying the final four spots in the race classification.