Jack Miller wants to race in Australia – Yamaha is reviewing the rules

Jack Miller is set to move from MotoGP to the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha in 2027. The R1 and the new Michelin Superbike tyres, which will be used in the World Championship from next season onwards, present the Australian with new challenges. One idea for his preparation: Miller could compete in races in the Australian Superbike Championship this winter.

Yamaha is generally in favour of such a move. However, Niccolo Canepa made it clear that a regulatory issue must first be clarified. For regular riders in the World Superbike Championship, the number of test days is limited. Furthermore, different regulations apply to the bike for private rides than for races on a competition machine.

Yamaha welcomes the idea, but...

“The main issue is the test days. Superbike riders only have a limited number of test days available,” explained Canepa during a meeting with SPEEDWEEK.com in Cremona. “That’s why we need to find out whether and how races in a national championship would count towards these test days.”

It is not yet clear whether Miller actually wants to compete in the races. “If Jack asks us to compete in a few Superbike races in the Australian Championship over the winter: Yamaha Australia is represented there by official teams. So, in principle, I don’t see a problem with that,” said Canepa. “To be honest, though, we haven’t discussed it yet.”

Niccolo Canepa

Foto: Yamaha

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From a sporting perspective, the Yamaha official would welcome the idea. “If a rider decides not to train at a track in Spain over the winter, but instead to travel to Australia, close to his home, and compete in a race there rather than completing a test day on his motorbike, I actually think that’s better. I don’t see anything negative about it. I think he’s done that once before.”

This does not yet constitute a commitment to compete in the Australian championship. Canepa first wants to clarify how the regulations treat such races. Only then will it be possible to assess what options Miller actually has for preparing for his first World Superbike season.