Jack Miller is set to leave MotoGP and join Yamaha’s factory Pata Yamaha WorldSBK team in 2027, replacing Xavi Vierge. The supplied sources agree on the move but conflict over its duration: one describes a commitment covering the 2027 season, while the other includes both 2027 and 2028.

Experience Yamaha wants to use

The Australian brings 15 seasons in the grand prix paddock, including 12 in MotoGP’s premier class. He moved directly to MotoGP in 2015 after finishing runner-up to Alex Márquez in Moto3, and has since taken four premier-class wins and 23 podiums.

Miller has also raced Yamaha’s R1 at the Suzuka 8 Hours during the past two seasons, finishing runner-up on both occasions as part of Yamaha’s factory team. Yamaha has cited that experience as relevant to his arrival in WorldSBK and to the development of the motorcycle. Yamaha Motor Europe sporting manager Niccolò Canepa said the opportunity to sign Miller was “too good to miss”, adding that his MotoGP experience and knowledge of Michelin tyres would be valuable to the project.

A significant tyre change in 2027

Michelin is scheduled to replace Pirelli as WorldSBK’s tyre supplier in 2027. That timing gives Miller’s experience with MotoGP and Michelin particular relevance to Yamaha’s stated reasoning, although it does not establish any guaranteed performance benefit from the switch.

Yamaha’s WorldSBK context

The move comes as Yamaha continues its effort in a championship where its current lead rider, Andrea Locatelli, is 12th with a best result of fifth. Yamaha has not won a WorldSBK race since Locatelli’s victory at Assen in 2025.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was Yamaha’s last WorldSBK champion, taking the title in 2021; Ben Spies won the manufacturer’s other stated championship in 2009. Miller’s expected arrival is part of a broader group of MotoGP-to-WorldSBK moves, although the other named transfers are not presented here as finalised agreements.

Miller may also combine WorldSBK duties with a return to Suzuka and possibly MotoGP testing, but those possibilities should not be treated as confirmed elements of his programme.