Although not all details have been officially disclosed, nearly every position on the 2025 MotoGP grid has been secured. The only real vacancy is at Pramac, where Miguel Oliveira is expected to make the move from Trackhouse, as Yamaha aims to reclaim its coveted satellite team.
Not long ago, Yamaha was a dominant force in the premier class, boasting champions like Valentino Rossi (2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009) and Jorge Lorenzo (2010, 2012, and 2015). Their last championship win occurred just three years ago (2021) with Fabio Quartararo. However, they have since struggled to keep pace with European manufacturers, particularly Ducati.
The turning point occurred when Yamaha lost its satellite team at the end of 2022 over conflicts with Razlan Razali, who owned the squad. The significance of this loss was understated by Yamaha executives, especially considering that Rossi, who departed from their roster in 2022, quickly aligned with Ducati for his VR46 team.
As a result, Ducati fielded eight bikes on the grid in 2023 and 2024, propelling its motorcycle development to an impressive level that seemingly surpasses the competition. This was evident at the British Grand Prix, where eight Desmosedici machines filled the top 10, completely overshadowing the Japanese entries.
Upon realizing the costly error, Lin Jarvis, Yamaha’s director, sought to recover those two additional bikes swiftly. In 2023, he attempted to persuade Rossi and his VR46 team to transition away from Bologna, a move many considered logical. However, the response remained unchanged: a resounding no.
“VR46 is our plan A, our first choice, and it’s what we aspire to do. Plan B involves Pramac. Beyond that, we have no alternatives,” explained a Yamaha executive to Autosport at Le Mans prior to securing a deal with Pramac at the end of June.
Oliveira is widely expected to join Pramac from Trackhouse, but the identity of his soon-to-be team-mate is less clear cut
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Yamaha has been proactive in its approach. Jarvis succeeded in getting Quartararo to extend his contract and subsequently met one of the essential conditions Quartararo set: expanding to four M1s for the 2025 season. The announcement of Alex Rins’ renewal last week cemented the factory team’s lineup. With these objectives accomplished, the management is now focusing on assembling the satellite structure.
“It’s our partner team; Yamaha supplies the bikes, and the rider selections will be made in alignment with the needs and preferences of Pramac,” explained a senior Yamaha executive to Autosport at Silverstone. This authoritative source was then directly asked who will determine the identity of Pramac’s riders.
“The initial plan involved bringing in a seasoned rider [Oliveira] alongside a young rookie,” replied the Yamaha representative. Under this framework, the top candidates to join Oliveira include Sergio Garcia and Alonso Lopez, both competing in Moto2.
Autosport has gathered that Miller is once again a realistic contender for an M1 ride.
“The alternative scenario considered was to recruit two experienced riders who possess category knowledge to assist in quicker bike development. After discussions with Pramac, we considered the option of a young Italian rider, keeping in mind the sensitivities surrounding sponsorship,” the source elaborated, referencing the preferences of Prima, the sponsor of Paolo Campionoti’s team.
In this mix, Tony Arbolino’s name has emerged as a strong candidate, with Quartararo recognizing him as an ideal fit. However, a crucial question remains: how committed is Yamaha to prioritizing the M1’s development?
This past weekend at Silverstone, Jack Miller’s name came up again. The Australian mentioned on Thursday, ahead of the grand prix, that he had yet to receive any calls while he looks for a new team after KTM promoted Pedro Acosta from Tech3 and brought in Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini for their satellite team.
“I haven’t received any offers,” Miller stated, signaling concern in a championship known for its diverse nationality representation while still prioritizing top talent regardless of origin. “The pretext for the abundance of Italian and Spanish riders in the grid is simply that they are fast,” has always been the standpoint of Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
Miller could find an unexpected reprieve at Pramac next year
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Miller’s plea for assistance was heard, and within two days, the Townsville native, who raced for Pramac from 2018 to 2020, was spotted in the team’s hospitality area alongside his manager, Aki Ajo, and a member of the championship’s commercial division. Although no details have emerged from their discussion, Autosport understands that Miller is once again a viable option for an M1 seat.
This scenario would result in Pramac fielding two riders with similar profiles: both Oliveira and Miller are 29 years old, share 14 years of experience in the world championship, and have a comparable number of wins (four for Miller and five for Oliveira). They both have experience with factory and satellite teams, understand the sport well, and are commercially appealing as the sole representatives of their respective countries in MotoGP.
If decision-makers at Iwata or Gerno di Lesmo deem Miller as the right choice, finalizing his contract would make perfect sense. However, if Yamaha turns to Miller solely due to external pressures, it may raise significant concerns about the project’s future.
Choosing a rider based on nationality could imply that the new championship leadership, arriving at the end of the year, is prioritizing diversity over performance. More importantly, it would indicate Yamaha’s commitment to prioritizing the M1’s development as a core focus of their strategy.
Miller would represent a more experienced candidate for Pramac than Arbolino
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
