Fabio Quartararo Concedes: Jack Miller Gives Yamaha Unique Benefit He Lacks

Fabio Quartararo has openly welcomed Yamaha’s decision to extend Jack Miller’s MotoGP stay with Pramac Racing for the 2026 season, insisting the Australian brings something to the factory that even he cannot offer. The Frenchman, who has been the benchmark Yamaha rider since his arrival in the premier class, believes Miller’s depth of experience with multiple manufacturers gives the team a technical edge they desperately need as they continue their fight to close the gap to Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia.

Miller had faced an uncertain future heading into 2026. With Yamaha evaluating its options and preparing to promote Toprak Razgatlioglu into the Pramac garage, the 30-year-old Australian was tipped for a possible move to World Superbikes. Yet Yamaha ultimately opted to retain Miller on a one-year deal, making him Razgatlioglu’s teammate for next season. That decision means Miguel Oliveira will leave the satellite team at the end of 2025, despite originally holding a two-year agreement with Yamaha.

For Oliveira, the decision is a hard blow after a difficult campaign that has seen him score just 17 points in 2025. In comparison, Quartararo leads the Yamaha contingent with 129 points, while Miller has 54 and Alex Rins 45. With results dictating contracts, Yamaha decided to keep Miller, valuing his input in areas that extend beyond pure points scoring.

Quartararo Praises Miller’s Technical Knowledge

While Quartararo is Yamaha’s undisputed star, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion has only ever ridden the Yamaha M1 at the highest level. His loyalty and consistency have been invaluable, but he admits that he lacks one important perspective: knowledge of how Yamaha’s rivals’ machines work.

That is where Miller comes in. The Australian has ridden for Honda (2015-2017), Ducati (2018-2022), and KTM (2023-2024) before joining Yamaha’s Pramac project. According to Quartararo, Miller’s ability to compare electronics and chassis philosophies across four different manufacturers gives Yamaha an advantage in pinpointing where they are falling behind.

“That’s why I think it was good to keep Jack for the future,” Quartararo said ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix. “For me, it was always the same, I only know Yamaha. I don’t know what the electronics are like on KTM, Ducati, Aprilia or Honda. For me, I feel like we’re still a long way off. But I don’t know if it’s 5%, 10% or 20%. Jack can tell Yamaha exactly where they are compared to others.”

Electronics Still the Big Weakness

Electronics remain Yamaha’s most glaring weakness in the modern MotoGP era. Where Ducati and KTM thrive with advanced traction control, torque delivery systems, and ride-height devices, Yamaha’s riders often complain of inconsistency and unpredictability. Quartararo has repeatedly highlighted these problems, particularly at tracks like Misano, where Yamaha’s time attack laps are undermined by a lack of grip and confidence.

Quartararo admitted the situation was frustrating: “Especially here in Misano, in the test, it was very difficult for me. We need to improve our electronics. That’s why Jack is so important—because he can explain how other bikes feel and where we need to focus.”

By contrast, Quartararo can only describe how the Yamaha feels internally. Without the benchmark of having tested another manufacturer’s package, his feedback has its limits. Miller’s wider frame of reference is precisely what Yamaha hopes will accelerate their development program, especially as they prepare their new V4 prototype for the future.

Oliveira Loses Out as Razgatlioglu Joins

The decision to retain Miller also reshapes Yamaha’s 2026 line-up. Toprak Razgatlioglu, who has dominated in World Superbikes, will step up to MotoGP with Pramac. The Turkish star was always seen as a long-term project for Yamaha, and pairing him with an experienced rider like Miller provides balance.

Unfortunately, Oliveira is the casualty. Yamaha have voided the second year of his contract, making him the odd man out. While the Portuguese rider has endured a difficult season, his exit shows Yamaha’s ruthless intent to strengthen their roster and lean on riders who bring both performance and technical feedback.

Confirmed 2026 MotoGP Line-Ups

• Aprilia: Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi

• Trackhouse Aprilia: Ai Ogura, Raul Fernandez

• Ducati: Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia

• VR46 Ducati: Fabio Di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli

• Gresini Ducati: Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer

• Honda: Joan Mir, Luca Marini

• LCR Honda: Johann Zarco, TBC

• KTM: Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder

• Tech3 KTM: Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini

• Yamaha Factory: Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins

• Pramac Yamaha: Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jack Miller

With this grid set, Yamaha are betting on a mix of experience and fresh energy. Quartararo will remain the spearhead, Rins provides consistency, Razgatlioglu offers explosive potential, and Miller delivers cross-manufacturer expertise.

Why Quartararo Believes Miller Is Irreplaceable

For Quartararo, Miller’s role goes beyond simply riding fast. The Australian acts as a bridge of knowledge between Yamaha and its competitors. His past experience means he can directly tell engineers what works on other bikes, and how Yamaha can replicate or counter those strengths.

This insight could be decisive as Yamaha chase Ducati, who currently dominate MotoGP with unparalleled machinery. Quartararo acknowledges that while his raw pace and ability to extract the maximum from the M1 are strong, Miller’s ability to decode rival philosophies is what Yamaha truly needs right now.

As Quartararo summed up: “I can’t compare Yamaha to anything else, but Jack can. That’s why keeping him was the right decision.”