Jack Miller believes the Yamaha M1 is ideal for the high-speed challenge of the Australian MotoGP home race at Phillip Island.
Miller, who finished on the podium with Ducati in 2019, will once again carry the hopes of home in this weekend’s premier class.
However, he came to this point without a top-10 finish since Brno.
Nevertheless, Miller believes the flowing nature of the seaside circuit should influence the M1.
“I’m looking forward to heading to Phillip Island to race Yamaha,” Miller said.
“Philip Island is a track that suits the bike well and has lots of fast corners to help maintain and build speed, so we should be able to do a good job.
“Aside from the great pleasure of racing at home in front of so many fans who have come to see me, I am very interested to see what we can achieve.
“It was good to put on a good show for them.”
Miller’s achievements at Phillip Island include winning the Moto3 Grand Prix in 2014, the season before he made the jump to MotoGP, but his earliest memories are from five years ago.
“I still remember the first time I went there as a fan, it was in 2009 and I saw Julián Simon win the 125cc championship,” Miller recalled.
“At that time I was mainly racing motocross, but after I discovered road racing I already knew I wanted to be a part of this world.”
Miller’s best result so far this season was fifth at COTA, but Pramac’s teammate Miguel Oliveira has finished in the top 10 in three of the past four races.
The Portuguese athlete is also the winner of the small class at Phillip Island, but missed last year’s competition due to injury.
“I’m really happy to be back at Phillip Island, it’s my favorite circuit and where I’ve had some great moments with podiums and wins,” he said.
“Recent races have shown steady progress, so my approach this weekend is to start strong from the first session, do my best and try to find a good feeling on the bike quickly.”
“My goal is to get into Q2 again and fight for points in both races.”
Oliveira will return to Phillip Island to make his World SBK debut in early 2026.
Team director Gino Borsoy is confident that the M1 will be competitive this weekend, although it is fifth and last in the constructors’ standings.
“I’m looking forward to this Australian Grand Prix with great interest, not only because it’s Jack’s home race, but also because I believe Yamaha will suit this track very well,” Borsoy said.
“Even if the results do not fully reflect our potential, there have been encouraging signs recently.
“We hope that Phillip Island is a turning point and a fresh start for Jack. I’m sure he will want to deliver something special to the home crowd, as he has done so many times before.
“As for Miguel, we expect him to maintain the excellent form he has shown recently and continue to fight to score valuable points.”