Jack Miller’s debut Yamaha season completed because it had began – by taking the chequered flag as the highest M1 rider in Sunday’s Valencia MotoGP finale.
The Australian, the main Yamaha on the Thai Grand Prix opener, bounced again from Saturday’s penalty controversy to run as excessive as sixth.
However extreme wheelspin punished his rear tyre and Miller slipped to ninth by the chequered flag.
“It was race, although I suffered from having to push an excessive amount of to stick with the fellows,” Miller mentioned. “In turns 1, 2, 6 and as much as 8 the tyre was spinning massively, however you possibly can‘t sacrifice something there as a result of the others aren‘t, they usually‘re gaining.
“So we‘re spinning greater than the others, with much less acceleration. I attempted to handle the left-hand facet of the tyre on entry and management the best way I used to be carrying the velocity, however ultimately, with ten laps to go, the tyre gave up and I used to be simply bleeding time, attempting to outlive. We all know the problems.”
Sunday additionally marked the ultimate MotoGP outing for Yamaha’s Inline4 M1, with the producer confirming a swap to the V4 for 2026.
Miller believes the transition might be smoother than the adjustment he constructed from KTM – with its carbon-fibre chassis and WP suspension – to this yr’s Yamaha.
“Now we‘ll put this [Inline] bike within the cellar and begin engaged on the brand new one to see what we are able to do. It received‘t be as massive a step because the one I had through the yr, going from what I knew [before] to this bike,” Miller mentioned.
“Over the season we‘ve been up and down – some good highlights and a few respectable lowlights too – however within the final couple of races, since Australia, we‘ve managed to know the entrance finish a bit extra.
“Possibly we misplaced a little bit by way of outright efficiency, however we gained good suggestions in stability and in managing the tyre. Now I perceive this bike an increasing number of.
“Subsequent yr‘s [V4] bike might be totally different, however the DNA is similar.”
Miller completed the season simply seventeenth on the planet championship, however because the second-best Yamaha behind Fabio Quartararo (ninth). Quartararo crashed out of eleventh within the closing levels of the Valencia MotoGP.
Miguel Oliveira a “incredible rider”, “excited to see” what Toprak can do
Sunday was additionally the ultimate MotoGP race for Miller’s Pramac team-mate Miguel Oliveira.
“Lastly, let me say goodbye and thanks to Miguel, who raced his final MotoGP race at the moment. He has been a incredible rider for this sport, and we‘ve shared nice instances collectively, as we‘ve been racing one another since we have been youngsters,” Miller mentioned.
“It‘s unhappy to see him depart the paddock, however I‘m trying ahead to seeing his journey in Superbike. And I‘m prepared to begin working with Toprak: he‘s one other incredible rider, and I‘m excited to see what he can do.”
Reigning WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu will journey alongside Miller and many of the 2026 grid throughout an official take a look at at Valencia on Tuesday, then a non-public take a look at on Wednesday.
