Jack Miller objects to the removal of Sunday warm-up from MotoGP’s 2027 schedule. The change is part of a wider redesign of the Grand Prix weekend, bringing less practice time, a dedicated Sprint qualifying session on Friday afternoon and a revised route to the main-race grid.

Under the new format, every rider will go through Q1 to determine the Grand Prix starting order. Sunday’s warm-up will instead give way to ten minutes of pre-race sighting laps. For Miller, this is not merely a question of presentation or television flow: it changes how riders prepare for one of the most physically demanding events in motorsport.

Less preparation, unchanged commitment

Miller said his understanding was that the manufacturers wanted fewer laps and less time on track because the calendar would contain more main races. He does not expect the reduction in practice to make riders more cautious. His argument is that they will continue to attack at the same intensity, while having less opportunity to set up the bike and find a clean, competitive circuit.

That could also increase the risk, Miller believes. Riders are already pushing hard in the closing minutes of Friday running, but they have first had time to adapt the motorcycle and tyres to the conditions. With less preparation, the same level of commitment will arrive sooner. He also argues that multiple qualifying phases make it harder for spectators to follow the weekend, rather than automatically making the show more engaging.

Why Miller is defending Sunday warm-up

Miller’s strongest objection is reserved for Sunday morning. He says MotoGP motorcycles are not Moto2 or Moto3 machines and that riders need time on the bike before an event that places exceptional physical demands on them. He referred to the arm fatigue riders feel on Sunday morning, even before the race starts, as a reminder that the final preparation session has a practical purpose.

His preferred solution is not simply to retain every existing session. Miller suggested running a complete Grand Prix across two days, provided the entire programme was reorganised to fit that format. He also sees a spectator benefit: for an average fan, following a Friday-to-Sunday event means taking three days away from other commitments.

Miller’s comments come with added context because he will leave MotoGP for the 2027 season and move to the WorldSBK championship alongside Franco Morbidelli and Brad Binder. His criticism nevertheless concerns a change that will affect the preparation, spectacle and workload of the entire premier-class field.