Jack Miller says the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours remains one of the most special events in motorcycle racing as he prepares to chase victory with Yamaha’s factory team this weekend.
With Johann Zarco sidelined through injury, Miller will be the only current full-time MotoGP rider competing in this year’s famous endurance race.
The Pramac Yamaha rider returns to Suzuka for a second consecutive season alongside teammates Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Andrea Locatelli, hoping to improve on last year’s runner-up finish behind Honda’s winning trio led by Zarco and Takumi Takahashi.
Unlike 2025, when the Suzuka 8 Hours was held during MotoGP’s summer break, this year’s event falls between the Dutch and German Grands Prix. Combined with the addition of the Brno round, Miller now faces an intense schedule of four race weekends in a row.
Despite the demanding calendar, the Australian insists the opportunity to compete at Suzuka is one he simply cannot pass up.
“It’s important. It’s a race I really enjoy,” Miller said. “It’s one of those historic races.”
Widely regarded as one of the crown jewels of motorcycle endurance racing, the Suzuka 8 Hours has long attracted the world’s top riders, with Miller eager to add his name to the event’s prestigious list of winners after narrowly missing out last season.
