Jack Miller’s debut season with Yamaha ended simply because it started, as he took the checkered flag as the highest M1 rider at Sunday’s closing Valencia MotoGP race.
The Australian, who led Yamaha within the opening spherical of the Thai Grand Prix, bounced again from Saturday’s penalty controversy to climb as much as sixth place.
Nonetheless, extreme wheelspin broken the rear tire and Miller fell to ninth place by the checkered flag.
“I struggled with pushing myself too exhausting to stick with the fellows, nevertheless it was a great race,” Miller mentioned. “The tires had been spinning so much by Turns 1, 2, 6 and eight, however you’ll be able to’t sacrifice something there as a result of they’re gaining whereas others aren’t.”
“So we had extra spin and fewer acceleration than the others. We tried to handle the left aspect of the tires on the doorway and management how briskly we had been going, however ultimately the tires gave up with 10 laps to go and we had been simply losing time making an attempt to outlive. We all know the issue.”
Sunday was additionally the ultimate MotoGP look for Yamaha’s Inline4 M1, with the producer confirming a change to V4 in 2026.
Miller believes it is going to be a smoother transition than the transition from KTM, with its carbon fiber chassis and WP suspension, to Yamaha this 12 months.
“Proper now, I’m going to place this (inline) bike within the cellar and begin engaged on a brand new bike to see what I can do. Going from what I knew (beforehand) to this bike is just not as massive a step as I had this 12 months,” Miller mentioned.
“We have had our ups and downs all through the season, some good highlights and a few lowlights, however over the previous couple of races since Australia we have been in a position to perceive the entrance finish a bit extra.
“Perhaps we misplaced just a little bit by way of outright efficiency, however we bought good suggestions by way of stability and tire administration. We perceive this bike increasingly now.”
“Subsequent 12 months’s (V4) bike will likely be totally different, however the DNA would be the similar.”
Miller completed the season in simply seventeenth place within the World Championship, however completed second for Yamaha behind Fabio Quartararo (ninth place). Quartararo crashed from eleventh place within the closing phases of the Valencia MotoGP.
Miguel Oliveira: ‘Nice rider’, ‘excited to see’ what Toprak can do
Sunday was additionally the final MotoGP race for Miller’s Pramac teammate Miguel Oliveira.
“Lastly, let me say goodbye and thanks to Miguel, who fought his final MotoGP race right this moment. He is a good rider on this sport and we’ve got been racing collectively since we had been children, so we’ve got shared some nice occasions collectively,” Miller mentioned.
“I’m unhappy to see him depart the paddock, however I’m trying ahead to watching his journey in Superbike and I’m prepared to begin working with Toprak. He’s additionally an amazing rider and I’m trying ahead to seeing what he can do.”
Reigning world SBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will run alongside Miller and a lot of the 2026 grid through the official take a look at in Valencia on Tuesday, adopted by a personal take a look at on Wednesday.
