Why did Honda penalize Jack Miller right after his victory? The strange reason that leaves everyone astonished
Jack Miller made MotoGP history at the 2016 Dutch Grand Prix, achieving his first-ever premier class victory in what became one of the most memorable wet-weather races in recent years. Starting from a lowly 19th place on the grid for the Marc VDS Honda satellite team, the Australian rider was not considered a threat to the front runners. Yet, what unfolded at Assen stunned the entire paddock.
The race itself was chaos personified. Torrential rain forced a red flag halfway through, sending teams scrambling to adjust their strategies. Multiple riders, including Valentino Rossi, who was vying for the championship that year, fell victim to the treacherous conditions. Meanwhile, Honda’s factory star Marc Marquez inherited the lead but couldn’t hold off a charging Miller.
Displaying incredible composure for someone who had only once finished in the top 10 before, Miller seized the lead with seven laps to go and never looked back. His win wasn’t just a lucky break; it was a masterclass in wet-weather riding, one that cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s most fearless competitors when conditions turn ugly.
A Shooey Celebration That Stirred Controversy
However, what should have been a universally celebrated moment soon turned into a bizarre controversy. Upon reaching the podium, Jack Miller performed a “shooey”, an Australian tradition popularized globally by Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. For the uninitiated, the ritual involves pouring champagne into one’s boot and drinking from it — a gesture of celebration and irreverent humor.
Joined on the podium by Marc Marquez and Pramac Ducati’s Scott Redding, Miller’s shooey was met with raucous laughter from fans and riders alike. But not everyone was amused.
According to paddock rumors that have circulated for years, Honda’s senior management was far from impressed by Miller’s antics. The celebration was viewed as unprofessional and potentially damaging to the brand’s carefully cultivated image. As the whispers go, Honda levied a fine against Miller for his podium shenanigans, marking one of the most unusual punishments ever handed down in MotoGP history.
Did Honda Really Fine Miller? Experts React to the Longstanding Rumor
The fine has remained something of an open secret in the MotoGP paddock, a topic of speculation that resurfaced recently during the TNT Sports coverage of the latest Dutch TT. MotoGP analysts Neil Hodgson and Sylvain Guintoli, both former riders themselves, discussed Miller’s famous victory and the odd aftermath.
“I might be wrong, but I don’t know if he received a fine for that,” said Hodgson, recalling the celebration.
Guintoli, however, seemed more certain: “He did. From what I hear, I did get a fine from Honda.”
Hodgson added, “That rumour circulated around the paddock afterwards, and I’ve not heard anything on the contrary since.”
Neither Honda nor Miller has officially confirmed the fine publicly, keeping the story shrouded in mystery. But in the high-stakes, image-conscious world of MotoGP, where sponsors and manufacturers wield enormous influence, such a reaction from a corporation like Honda wouldn’t be entirely surprising.
Miller’s Personality: A Double-Edged Sword in the Paddock
What happened at Assen perfectly encapsulates what makes Jack Miller such a beloved — and at times polarizing — figure in the MotoGP paddock. His larger-than-life personality, Aussie humor, and refusal to take himself too seriously have won him legions of fans worldwide. At the same time, his antics sometimes clash with the more corporate culture of the sport’s biggest manufacturers.
Miller’s tenure with Honda was short-lived. Despite his historic victory at Assen, he parted ways with the Japanese giant in 2017 and joined Ducati in 2018. There, he flourished as a team leader and consistent podium threat, earning multiple wins and playing a key role in Ducati’s resurgence.
But even at Ducati and now with Pramac, Miller’s personality remains unchanged. Whether he’s making light of serious topics or poking fun at his own misfortunes, his authenticity resonates in an increasingly polished and PR-driven paddock.
Fast-Forward to 2025: Miller Faces an Uncertain Future
Nearly a decade after his famous Dutch triumph, Jack Miller’s MotoGP career may be nearing its twilight. Yamaha is rumored to be pursuing rising star Diogo Moreira, potentially displacing both of Pramac’s current riders. Toprak Razgatlioglu, the reigning World Superbike champion, has already signed, leaving little room for veterans like Miller.
Miller, however, seems unfazed by the speculation. Ahead of the most recent Dutch Grand Prix, he spoke candidly about his future, even joking that he might blackmail Yamaha by leaking photos of their much-anticipated V4 engine.
This blend of humor and self-awareness is classic Miller — unwilling to play the media’s doom-and-gloom game, instead confronting uncertainty with a smile and a witty one-liner. It’s this charm, combined with undeniable talent, that has made him one of MotoGP’s most marketable personalities.
Could Liberty Media Use Miller’s Charisma for MotoGP’s Growth?
With Liberty Media’s recent acquisition of MotoGP, there is growing speculation about how the new owners will market the sport globally. Much like they did with Formula 1’s Drive to Survive, Liberty is expected to lean heavily on larger-than-life personalities to tell compelling stories.
Few riders fit that mold better than Jack Miller. His no-filter interviews, hilarious social media presence, and raw emotional displays — like the famous shooey — make him an ideal ambassador for MotoGP’s entertainment push.
But the reality of professional motorsport remains harsh: results matter most. Unless Miller can secure strong performances in the second half of the 2025 season, no amount of charisma will guarantee him a ride for next year.
A Legacy Defined by Grit, Humor, and a Little Bit of Madness
Whether or not he stays in MotoGP beyond 2025, Jack Miller’s legacy is secure. He’ll forever be remembered as the brash young Aussie who came from the back of the grid, defied the odds in treacherous conditions, and celebrated like only an Australian could — by drinking champagne out of his boot.
The rumored fine from Honda, strange as it may be, only adds another layer to his legend. In a sport where every action is calculated and every word filtered through layers of PR, Miller remains refreshingly human. His willingness to be himself, even if it means upsetting corporate bosses, has made him a rare breed in modern racing.
As his career winds down, fans, pundits, and rivals alike recognize that losing Miller from the MotoGP grid would be more than just the retirement of a talented rider — it would be the loss of one of the sport’s last true characters.
Final Thoughts: The Fine That Fits the Man
It’s still unclear whether the Honda fine was ever officially documented or whether it remains one of those paddock legends that survives simply because it sounds so perfectly Jack Miller. But true or not, the story fits him like a glove — or a boot filled with champagne.
In the sterile world of corporate-sponsored motorsport, where personalities are often muted, Jack Miller’s 2016 Assen victory — and his cheeky shooey celebration — stand out as a moment of pure, unfiltered joy. Even if it cost him a few euros.
And maybe that’s the perfect metaphor for Miller’s entire career: a little rough around the edges, occasionally at odds with the establishment, but always authentic — and never boring.
