Yamaha has ended months of speculation by announcing the MotoGP race winner will link up with Andrea Locatelli in Yamaha’s factory Superbike line-up for the 2027 and 2028 seasons

Jack Miller will join Yamaha’s official team in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The 31-year-old arrives with extensive top-level experience after 15 years in Grand Prix racing, including 12 seasons in MotoGP. During that time, Miller claimed four premier-class victories and 23 podiums, with a best championship finish of fourth in 2021.

Miller has spent his final two MotoGP seasons with Prima Pramac Yamaha, where his experience and technical feedback played an important role as Yamaha pushed ahead with development of its new V4 MotoGP machine.

His move to WorldSBK will not be his first outing on Yamaha’s R1-based machinery either. Miller has already raced the bike twice for Yamaha Factory Racing in the Suzuka 8 Hour, lining up alongside Andrea Locatelli, who will be his team-mate in Yamaha’s factory Superbike squad next season.

That combination, completed by Katsuyuki Nakasuga, finished second in each of the past two editions of the famous endurance event.

Miller’s signing gives Yamaha a proven race winner with deep MotoGP experience as it looks to strengthen its WorldSBK campaign for 2027 and beyond.

Miller may not be the only recent MotoGP rider heading to WorldSBK in 2027, with more rider market movement expected after Magny-Cours. Brad Binder is widely tipped to replace Danilo Petrucci in the BMW set-up, with Petrucci expected to leave the factory team and possibly even retire, although BMW is understood to be exploring ways to keep him on an M1000RR elsewhere. Franco Morbidelli is also being linked to a move across, with the expectation he will join Iker Lecuona in Ducati’s official operation.

There is also speculation that Xavi Vierge could switch to Barni Spark Racing Ducati, where he would likely line up alongside Yari Montella. If those moves happen, WorldSBK’s 2027 grid would feature an even stronger MotoGP flavour, with Miller, Binder and Morbidelli joining riders such as Remy Gardner, Miguel Oliveira, Lecuona and Somkiat Chantra already in the paddock. Even allowing for the likely exits of Petrucci and Alvaro Bautista, the championship could soon be shaped more than ever by riders developed through the grand prix system.

Jack Miller
“I am really excited to announce that I’m heading over to WorldSBK together with Yamaha, extending our partnership together. I have really enjoyed working with the brand these past few years in MotoGP and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to see what we can do on the R1. I have had a small taste of the bike at Suzuka the last couple of years, and while the WorldSBK-spec bike is a bit different I am really looking forward to this next chapter in my career and hopefully we can do something really strong over there.”

Niccolò Canepa, Road Racing Sporting Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe
“We are hugely excited to welcome Jack Miller to Yamaha’s WorldSBK project in 2027, and personally I am very happy to have him join our team. The opportunity to bring a rider of his experience and talent into our official team was too good to miss, and we are already looking forward to the first tests. His Grand Prix experience, particularly his knowledge of Michelin tyres, will be extremely valuable for us. He has already achieved strong results with the R1 at Suzuka, so we are excited to see what he can do on the WorldSBK-spec bike and what he can contribute to the R1’s continued development. Beyond the technical side, Jack’s personality and international profile will also be a great asset in strengthening Yamaha’s presence and bringing even more attention to the WorldSBK Championship. We are very much looking forward to starting this new chapter together.”