In the world of MotoGP, you would think that the riders, who risk their lives every weekend, would be ranked in millions. And once upon a time, they actually were. But according to Jack Miller, the good old days of big salaries are gone.

Because back in the day, legends like Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were making serious money. Mostly because Rossi wasn’t just a rider, he was a global legend with amazing brand deals. And Jorge Lorenzo wasn’t that far behind. Their talent made them superstars and soon the paycheck followed.

So today everything has changed. Big names like Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo are still having decent money, with Quartararo reportedly being the top earner now with around €12 million a year. But beyond the elite few, most riders are earning much less than what everyone is expecting.

Miller, himself, as a person who has been in MotoGP for over a decade and raced for many teams, opened up about the situation on the Gypsy Tales podcast.

“These days, even experienced guys like me are signing deals for peanuts,” he said. “Young riders, rookies—everyone’s just trying to get a foot in the door. You take what you can get.”
But what has changed?

According to Miller, the focus has shifted from the rider to the bike. Which means that MotoGP is now dominated by highly performance bikes made by manufacturers like Ducati. And the teams aren’t building themselves around riders anymore. They are rather investing in the best technology, and riders are being treated as replaceable parts in a high-tech bike.

“The bikes are setting the standard now,” Miller explained. “If you want the opportunity to ride a top bike, you have to take what’s offered. There’s less room to negotiate.”

In the past, riders had principles. If one team didn’t pay, another would try to take the rider. That sense of competition gave riders incredible power. But now? Not so much.

“It’s hard to say this as a rider, but no one’s really trying to steal your guy anymore,” Miller said. “Unless a rider actively wants to leave, teams aren’t chasing them. The bikes are so good, they don’t have to.”

And the shift has made a real impact. Riders are still pushing themselves to the limit, yet their earning potential has dropped significantly.

“These guys are out there risking their lives. They’ve got a short window to make money in this sport, and the market’s gone way down in the last ten years,” Miller said. “It’s unfortunate.”

Miller himself knows how brutal the business can be. And after losing his seat to Pedro Acosta, it looked like an end for him. But his fate was turned, when Prima Pramac switched from Ducati to Yamaha, opening the door for Miller to make his comeback.

All this is a reminder that in MotoGP, talent alone isn’t enough anymore. You need timing, opportunity, and a little luck.

So while the sport continues to grow in popularity worldwide, Miller’s comments create hope for riders. After all, fans can see the speed, the glamour, the trophies. But for many riders, the reality is different.