Jack Miller MotoGP Yamaha journey in 2025 saw him finish eight spots behind Fabio Quartararo, the only Yamaha rider to make it to the podium that season. Despite Miller’s consistent efforts, overtaking Quartararo proved nearly impossible on the aging Inline M1, highlighting the Frenchman’s qualifying skills and the challenges within the Yamaha team.
Quartararo’s Edge Defines Yamaha’s Season
Throughout the 2025 MotoGP season, Fabio Quartararo maintained a clear advantage over his Yamaha teammates, securing eight positions higher than Jack Miller, the next closest Yamaha competitor. Quartararo’s sole podium finish for Yamaha underscored the performance gap, as Miller’s highest result was a fourth place, with Alex Rins and Miguel Oliveira following behind at seventh and ninth, respectively.
Quartararo’s mastery in qualifying was a key differentiator, earning five pole positions and placing third in the BMW Award rankings, second only to the Marquez brothers’ Ducati efforts. Miller, meanwhile, stood twelfth in qualifying performance but celebrated a strong front-row start at Phillip Island during his first season racing for Pramac Yamaha.
Miller Reflects on Friendly Rivalry and Technical Limits
The camaraderie between Miller and Quartararo added an intriguing dimension to their on-track rivalry, as both riders pushed to outperform each other throughout the campaign.
“I’ve been friends with Fabio for a long time, so it was great to be able to work together,”
Miller told Crash.net.
“But obviously, he’s the first person that you want to beat, and vice versa.”
– Jack Miller, MotoGP Rider
Despite their competitiveness, Miller acknowledged Quartararo’s qualifying prowess and empathized with the frustration of being held back by the Yamaha’s limitations during actual races. Miller explained that the nature of the Inline M1 made overtaking extremely challenging, especially as competition intensified ahead of Yamaha’s switch to a new V4 engine in 2026.
“He’s special. For one lap, in terms of talent, the guy oozes it,”
Miller said, praising Quartararo’s talent in qualifying sessions. He described the Yamaha as a difficult bike to race, especially in traffic, and emphasized how the machine’s design limited riders’ ability to change lines or defend positions effectively.
“That’s why I believe, with his qualifying, if he had a bike that he could fight, or defend a little bit better, it would make life a lot easier.”
– Jack Miller, MotoGP Rider
Learning by Watching Quartararo’s Approach
Jack Miller’s extensive MotoGP experience includes stints with Honda, Ducati, and KTM before joining Yamaha, providing him with valuable insights from comparing his riding style to champions like Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. Miller valued the learning opportunities from studying Quartararo’s data firsthand.
“It’s been cool to see Fabio’s data,”
Miller revealed, reflecting on his collaboration with the French champion. With four Grand Prix wins and 23 podium finishes to his own name, Miller embraced the challenge of adapting and improving by benchmarking Quartararo’s approach.
“It helps to pick up things that he’s done differently, that maybe I could do.”
– Jack Miller, MotoGP Rider
Looking Ahead for Yamaha and Miller
As Yamaha prepares to transition from the Inline M1 to a new V4 machine in 2026, both Miller and Quartararo look forward to fresh opportunities. Their experiences together underscore the importance of teamwork and adaptability in a sport where machinery and technical nuance can define success. With Miller eager to implement lessons learned from Quartararo and the broader MotoGP field, the next season holds promise for the Yamaha squad and its determined riders.
