Pramac driver Jack Miller unexpectedly reveals the biggest weakness on the M1.

Jack Miller has never been one to hold back his opinions, and his latest comments about Yamaha’s M1 have sparked major discussions in the MotoGP paddock. The Australian rider, currently with Pramac Racing, unexpectedly pointed out what he believes to be the biggest weakness of the Yamaha M1—a revelation that could shed light on the struggles of the once-dominant Japanese manufacturer.

With Yamaha fighting to reclaim its former glory, Miller’s insights raise serious concerns about whether the M1 can remain competitive in the modern MotoGP era. What exactly did he say? How does his assessment compare to the struggles of Yamaha’s current riders? And what does this mean for the future of the M1?

In this article, we’ll break down Miller’s statements, analyze Yamaha’s ongoing performance issues, and explore the possible solutions the team could implement to fix their problems.

Miller’s Unexpected Criticism of the M1

During a recent interview, Miller was asked about his thoughts on the Yamaha M1—particularly its strengths and weaknesses compared to other bikes on the grid. While many expected the Pramac Ducati rider to remain diplomatic, Miller was surprisingly blunt.

“The M1 just doesn’t have the acceleration you need to fight in modern MotoGP,” Miller stated. “It’s smooth in the corners, sure, but when you come out of them and twist the throttle, there’s just not enough punch. That’s where the other bikes, especially Ducati, have the edge.”

Miller’s words echoed the frustrations of Yamaha’s current factory riders, Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins, who have repeatedly complained about the bike’s lack of power and poor acceleration. However, hearing these criticisms from an outsider—especially one riding for a Ducati-supported team—only amplifies the concern surrounding Yamaha’s ongoing struggles.

Acceleration: The Achilles’ Heel of the M1

MotoGP has changed dramatically over the past few years, with bikes becoming more powerful, aerodynamic, and technologically advanced. While Yamaha has traditionally been known for its smooth handling and corner speed, the modern era of MotoGP demands strong acceleration and top-end power—two areas where the M1 has fallen behind.

Miller’s observation is particularly damaging because it confirms what many insiders have suspected: Yamaha’s development has not kept pace with its rivals. While Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia have all made significant strides in improving their engines and acceleration, Yamaha has struggled to close the gap.

How Does the M1 Compare to Other Bikes?

To understand just how big of a problem Yamaha’s acceleration deficit is, let’s compare the M1 to its main competitors:

• Ducati Desmosedici GP: Ducati has set the standard in MotoGP with its incredible straight-line speed and acceleration. Riders like Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín can launch out of corners with explosive power, making overtaking much easier.
• KTM RC16: KTM has aggressively developed its bike, improving acceleration and straight-line speed significantly over the past few seasons.
• Aprilia RS-GP: The Aprilia has become a serious contender, and one of its biggest strengths is its powerful engine, which allows for strong acceleration out of corners.
• Honda RC213V: While Honda has had its own struggles, it still possesses raw power that Yamaha currently lacks.

Compared to these bikes, the Yamaha M1 is at a clear disadvantage. It may still be one of the easiest bikes to handle in terms of turning, but in a sport where races are often decided by acceleration and top speed, that isn’t enough.

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha’s Struggles

The most vocal critic of the M1’s lack of acceleration has been 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo. Despite his immense talent, Quartararo has found himself regularly frustrated with Yamaha’s inability to provide him with a competitive bike.

Last season, Quartararo made multiple comments about how difficult it was to fight against Ducati and KTM riders because of the M1’s poor acceleration. Even when he managed to take pole positions or strong qualifying results, he often found himself getting overtaken on the straights or losing ground when exiting corners.

Álex Rins, who joined Yamaha in 2024, has also struggled with the same issue. His early feedback to the team has been that the M1 simply doesn’t have the acceleration needed to stay competitive.

Miller’s comments add even more weight to these concerns. As a rider with experience on multiple manufacturers—including Honda, Ducati, and KTM—his opinion carries significant credibility.

Why Has Yamaha Fallen Behind?

One of the biggest reasons Yamaha has struggled to fix the M1’s acceleration problem is its conservative approach to engine development. Unlike Ducati, which has aggressively pursued performance improvements, Yamaha has been slower to adapt.

Some of the key factors behind Yamaha’s downfall include:

• Engine Development Restrictions: Yamaha has lagged behind in developing a more powerful and efficient inline-four engine. The current MotoGP landscape favors V4 engines, which Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia use to great effect. Yamaha remains the only manufacturer running an inline-four, which may be limiting their potential.
• Aerodynamics and Ride Height Devices: Ducati and KTM have invested heavily in aerodynamics and ride height devices that improve acceleration. Yamaha has struggled to implement these technologies as effectively.
• Electronics and Traction Control: Some reports suggest that Yamaha’s electronics package is less sophisticated than its rivals, leading to inefficiencies in how power is delivered.

With these disadvantages stacking up, Yamaha is now facing a crisis. Unless they make major improvements, they risk falling even further behind.

What Can Yamaha Do to Fix the M1?

If Yamaha wants to return to the top of MotoGP, they must address their acceleration issue as a priority. Here are some potential solutions:

1. Develop a More Powerful Engine

Yamaha’s inline-four engine philosophy may need to be reconsidered. Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia have proven that a V4 engine is the way forward in modern MotoGP. If Yamaha refuses to switch, they at least need to make major upgrades to their inline-four to close the power gap.

2. Improve Aerodynamics

Ducati’s dominance has shown how critical aerodynamics are in MotoGP. Yamaha must invest more resources into developing better fairings, downforce solutions, and ride height devices to improve acceleration and stability.

3. Enhance Electronics and Traction Control

If Yamaha’s electronics package is limiting how efficiently the M1 delivers power, this needs to be addressed immediately. A more refined traction control system could help maximize acceleration, even with the current engine limitations.

4. Bring in More Engineering Talent

To compete with Ducati and KTM, Yamaha may need to recruit top engineers from rival teams. Bringing in fresh perspectives could help push their development program forward.

Can Yamaha Recover?

Despite their current struggles, it would be unwise to completely count Yamaha out. They remain a historic manufacturer with championship-winning pedigree. However, if they continue to ignore the warning signs—now reinforced by Jack Miller’s comments—their problems will only worsen.

Miller’s assessment of the M1’s weaknesses should serve as a wake-up call. Yamaha cannot afford to be complacent anymore. If they want to keep their top riders happy and return to title contention, they must take aggressive action to fix their acceleration issues.

The next few months will be critical. If Yamaha can implement key improvements, we may see them fight back. But if they fail to act, they risk falling further into MotoGP’s midfield, while teams like Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia continue to surge ahead.

One thing is certain—MotoGP is evolving, and Yamaha must evolve with it. Whether they can rise to the challenge remains to be seen.