A Turnaround for Jack Miller
In July of last year, Jack Miller, one of MotoGP’s most outspoken and charismatic riders, faced a grim reality. His stint at KTM, which had been marked by intense challenges and a significant drop in performance, seemed to have taken a toll on his career. The Austrian manufacturer, reversing its initial promise, declined to offer Miller a new deal for the 2025 season. With few other options on the MotoGP grid, it appeared the 30-year-old Australian might have to consider a move to the World Superbike Championship or even retire from active competition. However, life took an unexpected and positive turn for Miller in February. He secured a factory contract with Yamaha to race for Pramac in MotoGP, and the initial testing has been smoother than he could have ever imagined.
Embracing the Yamaha M1
The pre-season testing for the Yamaha M1 has gone exceptionally well for Miller, and he attributes much of this success to the front-end feeling of the bike, which he describes as "phenomenally fantastic" and a "blessing." This positive sensation allowed him to quickly find his rhythm at Sepang, a track where Fabio Quartararo, one of the leading Yamaha riders, also excelled. Even under the low-grip conditions at Buriram, where Yamaha seemed relatively weak, Miller managed to secure the 11th position on the timesheets, just 0.012 seconds behind Quartararo’s best time. This early adaptation and performance have given Miller a significant boost in confidence as he prepares for the start of the season on 2 March.
Miller’s Rider Adaptation
Despite the positive feedback from the bike, Miller is realistic about the challenges ahead. He acknowledges that the Yamaha has “decent bones” but is also aware that his riding style will need adjustments to fully harness the potential of the M1. “I always knew that the Yamaha had decent bones, so it was more just wondering how my riding style would adapt to that and understanding what I’m going to have to do differently,” he shared in Thailand. Despite these uncertainties, Miller is enjoying the process and finds the bike fun to ride, noting that each session with a new tire brings opportunities to refine his technique and push the boundaries of speed.
Room for Improvement
While the front-end feeling has been a standout feature, Miller recognizes that there are areas where the Yamaha M1 needs improvement, particularly the rear end and engine performance. He believes these aspects are crucial for maintaining his competitive edge as the season progresses. “We’ve made some big steps on the bike and will continue to make some gains throughout the first few races. The trajectory is good for this,” he said. Miller’s optimism is palpable as he looks forward to the championship, noting that the battle is truly done with testing, and he is eager to begin racing.
Preparing for the Season-Opener
Miller has been diligently preparing for the season-opening Thai GP. During a sprint simulation, he encountered a minor issue with a faulty engine map, which forced him to default to the qualifying map for the latter part of the session. Despite this hiccup, he was still pleased with his overall pace during the long runs. “I did the sprint sim and was pretty happy with my pace, it wasn’t too bad,” he explained. “We had an issue starting the thing with one of the maps, the race maps, we had to default [to the] qualifying map in there. So I had to get a lap straight away and she [the bike] got pretty hectic for the last three laps to hang on to. But it was handy to have her to do that to understand what you’ve kind of got to do in that situation.” This experience has provided valuable insights into how to handle the bike under different conditions, which will be crucial for the upcoming races.
A Familiar Team with a New Challenge
Yamaha is the fourth different manufacturer Miller has raced with in MotoGP, but he has a strong connection with Pramac. He previously raced with the Italian team from 2018 to 2020 when it was part of Ducati’s satellite structure. This familiarity has been a significant advantage, as the transition from one bike to another can be challenging, both for the rider and the team. “I think it’s not easy for us as riders to change [bikes], but it’s even more difficult for the team to change because they’ve been working on the same bike for the past 10-15 years,” he noted. Despite the steep learning curve for the team, Miller is impressed by their efforts and feels confident in their ability to adapt and optimize the Yamaha M1. “They’ve done a fantastic job. I think we’re pretty comfortable to go racing now,” he said, expressing his gratitude and optimism as he embarks on this new chapter with Pramac.
Looking Forward
As Miller puts his KTM years behind him and starts afresh with Pramac and Yamaha, there is a genuine sense of optimism and excitement. The positive early results and the supportive environment provided by his new team have reignited his passion for racing. With a focused and determined mindset, Miller is ready to tackle the challenges of the 2025 MotoGP season and prove that he remains one of the sport’s top talents. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but for now, Jack Miller is back on track, and the future looks bright.
