Jack Miller showed his commitment to Yamaha by taking time out of his summer break to help the Japanese brand’s factory team finish second in the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours.
The Iwata crew returned to the iconic endurance race last week, having last fielded a factory team in 2019. But Yamaha finished second with Miller, World Superbike ace Andrea Locatelli and Katsuyuki Nakasuga. Honda won with Johann Zarco and Takumi Takahashi by 34.243s.
Miller was making his second-ever start in the Suzuka 8 Hours, having represented Honda in the 2017 race, as the Australian strived to show Yamaha why he should stay on the MotoGP grid beyond 2025. His factory contract to ride for Pramac is set to expire at the end of 2025.
Yamaha signed Miller to a one-year factory contract for 2025 after he left KTM, having even convinced Pramac to leave the satellite Ducati stable. But Yamaha signing World Superbikes championship-leader Toprak Razgatlioglu to join Pramac in 2026 put Miller’s future in doubt.
Photo by Hazrin Yeob Men Shah/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Miller could stay at Pramac in 2026, as Yamaha included a release clause in Miguel Oliveira’s two-year works contract to race for the Tuscan team from 2025, which is now available. The Portuguese hit the summer break as the lowest-scoring Yamaha rider with six points all year.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jack Miller from net worth to wife
TEAMBIKERIDER 1RIDER 2ApriliaAprilia RS-GPJorge MartinMarco BezzecchiTrackhouseAprilia RS-GPAi OguraRaul FernandezDucatiDucati Desmosedici GPMarc MarquezFrancesco BagnaiaVR46Ducati Desmosedici GPFabio Di GiannantonioTBCGresiniDucati Desmosedici GPMarc MarquezFermin AldeguerHondaHonda RC213VJoan MirTBCLCRHonda RC213VTBCTBCKTMKTM RC16Pedro AcostaBrad BinderTech3KTM RC16Maverick VinalesEnea BastianiniYamahaYamaha YZR-M1Fabio QuartararoAlex RinsPramacYamaha YZR-M1Toprak RazgatlioglouTBCConfirmed 2026 MotoGP rider line-ups
Managing director Paolo Pavesio will decide Miller and Oliveira’s futures with Yamaha by the end of August, as Moto2 gems Diogo Moreira and Manuel Gonzalez have even entered their thinking for the second Pramac seat. But Miller might yet step up to Yamaha’s works line-up.
MotoGP pit lane reporter Jack Appleyard claims Miller replacing Alex Rins in Yamaha’s works line-up next season is gaining support. While the latter has a contract for 2026, unlike Miller, ‘all’ of the Japanese crew’s sponsors would be happy to see a change at the end of this year.
Appleyard said on Fox Sports’ Pit Talk: “They need to make those tough decisions, be brutal, and choose the right riders who are going to be able to take the project forward.
“Whether that’s paying Alex out of his contract a year early, promoting Jack and then putting a rookie alongside Toprak at Pramac next year, I think that’s a scenario that some people see as quite a good fit.”
He continued: “And commercially, the fact that Jack is now a Monster rider, he fits well with the brands. Jack is easily one of the most marketable riders on the grid, and having him and Fabio in the factory team, that commercially works for all of the sponsors.”
Alex Rins knows he must do more despite having a contract with Yamaha for 2026
Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Miller was a long-time Red Bull athlete, but left the Austrian energy drink brand for its rival Monster ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season after signing with Yamaha to return to Pramac. The Australian rode for the Tuscan team while they were a Ducati outfit from 2018 to 2020.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Rins from net worth to career stats
Now, that sponsorship deal may see Miller step up to the Iwata outfit’s factory line-up next term with Rins’ future also in question. Carlo Pernat believes Yamaha could try to terminate Rins’ contract given his ongoing physical issues since breaking his leg at the 2023 Italian GP.
The 29-year-old sustained a double fracture of the tibia and fibula in the Sprint Race at the 2023 Italian GP while racing with LCR Honda. He continues to feel the effects of the injury, and has scored 10 fewer points than Miller in 2025, with the Australian on 52 with Pramac.
Even Rins’ camp is concerned about his future with Yamaha and the Spaniard knows that he must improve after the summer break to fend off any potential scenario where Miller is then promoted at his expense for 2026. The 2025 season will resume in Austria on August 15-17.