Jack Miller and Alex Rins are exploring opportunities in the World Superbike Championship after Yamaha confirmed Miller’s departure from its MotoGP team at the end of the 2026 season. Yamaha officials said the decision follows a strategic restructuring to introduce younger talent, with Miller’s factory contract not being renewed and his focus shifting toward securing a competitive ride in WorldSBK.
Moto2 rider Izan Guevara is set to replace Miller in the Pramac Yamaha line-up for the 2027 season, according to official Yamaha communications and multiple media reports. Miller, who has competed in MotoGP for 12 seasons, is described by sources including MotoGP.com and Motorsport.com as having a challenging 2026 campaign, with his points tally placing him low in the standings and limiting his options for a competitive factory seat in the premier class next year.
Jack Miller’s departure from Yamaha’s MotoGP team at the end of the 2026 season is confirmed, with the rider’s factory contract not being renewed as part of Yamaha’s strategic restructuring to introduce younger talent.
Miller has openly stated that World Superbike (WorldSBK) is now his main focus for the future. In July 2026, he told reporters at the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring that “all the seats here are full, so looking over at Superbike,” and that he is trying to secure “something solid over there.” He added, “Absolutely” when asked if WorldSBK appeals to him, further emphasizing that he has “a lot of racing left” and is “looking forward to hopefully heading over there and doing something special over on that side of the field.” While Miller has not ruled out a MotoGP test role, he stressed that his priority remains full-time racing, making WorldSBK his preferred next step rather than a development role in MotoGP, according to interviews published by Crash.net and Autosport.
Negotiations for Miller’s WorldSBK future are reportedly advanced, with sources including Speedweek and Motorsport.com indicating he is in talks with Yamaha, Honda, and BMW teams. Miller’s reported annual salary demand of around €1 million (approximately £850,000) narrows the field, with Honda and BMW seen as capable of meeting those terms. Yamaha’s official WorldSBK outfit has been described as hesitant to meet Miller’s financial expectations but recognizes his value as a sporting and marketing asset if an agreement can be reached. In July 2026, reports surfaced that Miller had “reportedly secured a contract” to race for Yamaha’s factory WorldSBK team in 2027, pairing him with Andrea Locatelli on the Yamaha R1. Yamaha sporting director Massimo Meregalli confirmed that Miller will relinquish his Pramac MotoGP seat at the end of the 2026 season to join the WorldSBK squad, although some sources caution that no official contract has yet been signed.
Alex Rins is also confirmed to be leaving his factory Monster Yamaha MotoGP seat after the 2026 season, with Yamaha opting for a completely new rider line-up. Ahead of the German GP at Sachsenring in July 2026, Rins told the media that he does not have a MotoGP seat secured for the following year and that he and his management are “trying to find something in WorldSBK.” He added, “Honestly no, I don’t have anything in this paddock for next year. We are trying to find something in WorldSBK, but right now, I don’t have anything.” WorldSBK’s official channels have described Rins as “appearing to have his sights set on World Superbike next year” as MotoGP seats become scarce and WorldSBK teams begin confirming riders.
Rins has been strongly linked with a move to the GoEleven Ducati WorldSBK team for the 2027 season. In late August 2026, he publicly stated that he is “looking for a Ducati,” confirming that if he makes the switch to WorldSBK, his priority is to race a Ducati rather than remain with Yamaha or join another manufacturer. However, Rins clarified that no deal has yet been finalized with GoEleven Ducati and that he still has alternative options in other championships, according to statements reported by Motorsport.com and WorldSBK official media. His preference for Ducati machinery aligns with his previous success on V4 motorcycles and the technical competitiveness he seeks in his next racing program.
Both Miller and Rins face a similar situation of exiting Yamaha’s MotoGP structure at the end of 2026 without secured premier-class rides. Each has explicitly acknowledged WorldSBK as their main post-MotoGP focus. While Miller’s WorldSBK future appears close to being finalized, most commonly with Yamaha’s factory team, Rins’s position remains more fluid, with ongoing negotiations and a clear preference for Ducati-aligned teams. Financial considerations differ between the two, with Miller’s reported €1 million salary demand limiting his options, whereas Rins’s publicly stated priority is securing a competitive Ducati ride rather than a specific salary figure.
The departures of Miller and Rins come amid Yamaha’s broader MotoGP restructuring, which aims to bring in younger riders and refresh its rider lineup for the 2027 season. Miller’s exit opens the door for Izan Guevara’s promotion to Pramac Yamaha, while Rins’s future remains under negotiation. Both riders’ moves to WorldSBK, if confirmed, would reflect a growing trend of MotoGP riders transitioning to the production-based championship as premier-class opportunities diminish. WorldSBK teams are actively securing their 2027 line-ups, with Miller and Rins among the high-profile riders shaping the next season’s grid.
