JACK MILLER AGREES A LOWER WSBK WAGE TO JOIN YAMAHA FOR 2027

Jack Miller has officially signed his contract to race in the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha in 2027, bringing an end to his MotoGP career as he moves away from the series at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The 31-year-old’s switch follows a period of uncertainty over his future, after Yamaha decided not to extend his works MotoGP deal with the Pramac satellite team, whose contract is set to expire after this year.

Miller initially returned to Pramac when it became Yamaha’s only satellite outfit in 2025, and he then secured a second one-season agreement for 2026. However, with his MotoGP path now effectively closing, he began exploring options in WSBK for next term. Reports indicate that his negotiations with Yamaha ultimately required him to adjust his wage expectations: Miller had been seeking €1 million per year to make the move, while Yamaha’s offer was closer to €500,000. A deal was later believed to have been struck at around €750,000 for the season, with the possibility of additional income through “generous” bonuses.

According to Motosprint, Miller’s 2027 contract was signed on August 20. He is expected to join Andrea Locatelli in Yamaha’s factory WSBK garage in Iwata, with Xavi Vierge set to step aside as Yamaha reshapes its production-bike lineup for 2027.

While the headline reason for the move has been framed around Miller’s wage demands, the reporting also points to a strategic motivation behind Yamaha’s decision to bring him into the category. Yamaha are said to see Miller’s arrival as a strong lever to help keep Pata on board as the factory team’s title sponsor. Pata’s contract with Yamaha’s WSBK squad is due to run out at the end of 2026, and Yamaha chief Nicolo Canepa is reported to have targeted Miller because of his international profile and marketability.

The sponsor angle is not new to Yamaha’s WSBK story. Pata has backed Yamaha’s factory superbike effort since 2016, and the partnership has previously benefited from major exposure—most notably in 2021, when Miller’s then-Pramac teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu won the World Superbike title for the first time. Razgatlioglu later added two more championships with BMW in 2024 and 2025 before switching to MotoGP with Pramac in 2026 on a two-year factory Yamaha contract.

In 2026, the Yamaha factory WSBK rider lineup is expected to be in transition as well. The Turkish rider Razgatlioglu is not returning to Yamaha’s production-bike team, and the reporting states that he will be replaced by Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura in Yamaha’s works ranks, taking the places of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins. Meanwhile, Izan Guevara is expected to replace Miller at Pramac in MotoGP for 2027.

With Miller now set to remain in Yamaha’s ecosystem rather than continue searching for a MotoGP opportunity elsewhere, Yamaha will be hoping that the combination of his signing and the adjusted contract terms helps secure Pata’s continued commitment beyond 2026.