MILLER PREPARES FOR HIS FINAL MOTOGP HOME RACE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Jack Miller is preparing for a landmark Australian Grand Prix in 2026: it will be his final MotoGP home race, and the championship’s last visit to Phillip Island before moving to Adelaide in 2027. The Australian will leave MotoGP at the end of the season after 12 years and switch to the Superbike World Championship. He is expected to race at Phillip Island again in February next year in WorldSBK.

The circuit has been part of Miller’s story since his early days. He won the Moto3 race there in 2014, took third in MotoGP in 2019, and in 2022 the track named Turn 4 “Miller Corner” in his honour. Speaking at Thursday’s opening press conference, he called Phillip Island “one of the most iconic tracks on the calendar” and said it had hosted some of MotoGP’s best races.

“I’m really looking forward to my home Grand Prix,” Miller said. “It will be a special weekend for both me and the team, as it’s my last home race in MotoGP before I move to Superbikes. This place has given me some great memories, so it will be an emotional experience.” He added that they had planned something special for the fans and that he wanted to make the most of the occasion.

Miller first raced at Phillip Island in 2009, arriving from smaller Australian circuits. The scale of the Grand Prix track initially left him unsure how to approach it: “There was so much space on the track.” He described riding a MotoGP bike there as “very special”, saying riders have to manage the bike’s movement, wheelies and the wind. “You can never attack at full tilt; you have to play with the bike. That makes it even more fun to ride here.”

The forecast could also suit the Australian. Friday is expected to be fine, while rain is possible over the weekend. Asked whether wet conditions might offer him an opportunity, Miller said: “We’ll see what’s possible. The rain will be our biggest friend this weekend.” He believes Phillip Island allows riders to make a difference even when their machinery is not working particularly well.

For the occasion, Miller has prepared a green-and-gold helmet and leathers, with his Yamaha carrying the same colours. “It looks pretty cool — the bike and everything else,” he said.

Miller’s departure will also mean the paddock loses one of its most distinctive personalities, known for quick jokes and an outspoken manner. Asked who might take over his role, he laughed: “I don’t know if anyone wants to take that on. It’s a kind of class clown role, and there’s a long list of things you shouldn’t do.” Looking back on his career, he called the experience “a crazy adventure” and said he felt fortunate to have spent 12 years in MotoGP.