MotoGP veteran Jack Miller wants €1 million from a Superbike team

The current MotoGP riders Jack Miller, Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Rins, Maverick Viñales and Luca Marini are all without a contract for 2027; and as things stand, only Marini still has a chance of remaining in the premier class – with Tech3 KTM.

With the exception of Viñales, all have expressed an interest in the World Superbike Championship and have been sounding out their options. However, there are only a maximum of four places left in the factory teams: one at BMW (replacing Petrucci), one at Aruba.it Ducati (replacing Bulega), one at Honda, should the Japanese manufacturer set up a satellite team, and one at Yamaha.

“We do have a place available for 2027, and we haven’t signed anyone yet, but we’re very happy with Xavi Vierge and are in talks to continue with him next year,” said Yamaha racing director Niccolo Canepa, commenting on the speculation. “Of course, as always, we’re looking at all the available options, but I don’t think there are many riders on the market who could do a better job than he is currently doing.”

Canepa’s boss, Andrea Dosoli, had already told SPEEDWEEK.com in early June that the team would carry on with the current quartet – Stefano Manzi, Remy Gardner and Andrea Locatelli are already under contract for 2027.

Is Miller scaling back his ambitions?

Reports that Miller could join Yamaha in the World Superbike Championship are coming out of the GP paddock. Yamaha’s MotoGP boss Paolo Pavesio and Dosoli have excellent relations, but the Australian’s demand for an annual salary of one million does not fit in with Yamaha’s or Ducati’s plans.

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Yamaha has an option on Vierge, which can be exercised by September. Miller is keen to continue racing motorbikes, so it would come as no surprise if he were to lower his demands in the coming weeks. Unless, that is, he joins Honda or BMW, as both these manufacturers could afford it.