Jack Miller could line up in the Australian Superbike Championship before joining Yamaha’s WorldSBK project in 2027. Niccolo Canepa, Yamaha Motor Europe’s sporting manager for road racing, said the possibility has not been discussed yet, but is worth considering. Yamaha would be willing to allow it only if the idea fits within the WorldSBK sporting framework.

Miller already has experience with race bikes derived from production models, including appearances at the Suzuka 8 Hours and in ASBK. The most recent example cited is the 2022 season finale at The Bend. The proposal would put him on a Yamaha R1 in Australia rather than limiting his winter preparation to training in Spain. It is not, however, a confirmed part of his racing programme.

WorldSBK rules are the main hurdle

WorldSBK regulations do not allow riders to train on race bikes and provide for standard road-specification motorcycles to be used for training. Yamaha must therefore establish whether an ASBK appearance on an R1 would comply with the rules. Canepa also made clear that Yamaha Australia would need to support the plan if it survives that regulatory check.

The ASBK calendar could theoretically offer a suitable opening. The first season of its new format begins in December and runs through the Australian summer and European winter months. Miller’s MotoGP commitments would keep him out of the first two rounds of the 2026–27 season at Phillip Island and The Bend. The third round in New South Wales, scheduled for the week after the Valencia Grand Prix, could instead provide a theoretical opportunity for him to compete.