Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP faces another difficult Sunday in Malaysia
Jack Miller finished the Malaysian Grand Prix in 16th position after tyre wear and grip issues affected his race, while Augusto Fernandez crashed out on the second lap.
GRAND PRIX OF MALAYSIA
RACE
Sepang (Malaysia), 1st November 2026
16th
JACK MILLER +43,327 / 20 LAPS
DNF
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ 1/20 LAPS
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP endured another difficult Sunday at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with both riders unable to achieve the results they had hoped for in the sweltering heat of Sepang. In a season that has proved more demanding than expected, the team faced another race in which the challenges encountered throughout the weekend continued to limit its potential.
Augusto Fernandez, standing in for the injured Toprak Razgatlıoğlu for the remainder of the season, saw his race come to an early end after crashing on the second lap. The Yamaha test rider had been looking to gain further valuable experience in race conditions, but the incident brought his Malaysian Grand Prix to a premature conclusion.
Jack Miller, meanwhile, battled in the midfield for much of the 20-lap race. However, the grip issues that had troubled him throughout the weekend, combined with increasing tyre wear in the closing stages, made it difficult to maintain his position. The Australian lost ground over the final laps and eventually crossed the finish line in 16th place.
GINO BORSOI Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
Clearly, it’s been another difficult weekend. Unfortunately, Augusto wasn’t able to finish the race, which would have been important for him as he continues to rebuild his MotoGP race rhythm and prepare for the remaining rounds. Sepang is a particularly demanding circuit, and the conditions were difficult, so unfortunately he crashed.
Jack, on the other hand, put together a good race and fought with a group of riders, including several other Yamahas. Unfortunately, his tyre performance dropped off towards the end. We need to analyse the data to understand why, but the tyre was quite worn and he couldn’t do any more. We were hoping to bring home at least one point, but unfortunately we just missed out.
JACK MILLER Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
It was a long, tough race. From start to finish, it was more about surviving than thriving. There’s not a huge amount to say, really. I had a couple of moments early on, and by around lap ten, when I saw the riders ahead pulling away, I could already feel that I was struggling a little more than them. I tried to manage things as best I could, both with my riding and the engine maps, but towards the end I was pretty much a sitting duck and couldn’t do much more.
Tyre wear was definitely a factor. The conditions were among the toughest we’ve faced, and Turn 1 felt like an ice rink on every lap. The biggest issue for me was the huge difference in grip between the track surface and the kerbs, so you were constantly trying to use the kerbs to your advantage wherever possible. It was a really difficult situation out there.
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
I made a mistake, and it was my fault. At the beginning, I was close to the other Yamahas, and after the pace we showed yesterday, I knew I could stay with them and try to make some passes. I was behind Iker Lecuona, and because of the engine difference, I was losing time in the corners and then he was able to pull away again on the straight. I wanted to get past him, but it was too early, and I made a mistake.
Despite that, I think it was a positive weekend in terms of my riding. I’m recovering my pace and feeling more comfortable on the bike, so I’m making good progress. Physically, I felt okay during the race, and I was happy with how I managed the heat throughout the weekend. It’s a shame I couldn’t finish the Grand Prix, because completing the full race distance would have been important for rebuilding my physical condition, but I feel I’m getting there, both physically and mentally, as well as in terms of my riding. I was happy with the Sprint and with the overall progress we made.
Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
Jack, on the other hand, put together a good race and fought with a group of riders, including several other Yamahas. Unfortunately, his tyre performance dropped off towards the end. We need to analyse the data to understand why, but the tyre was quite worn and he couldn’t do any more. We were hoping to bring home at least one point, but unfortunately we just missed out.