Jack Miller was the child prodigy of motorcycle racing when he skipped Moto2 and moved directly from Moto3 to MotoGP in 2015. He was 20 years old. He certainly encountered a steep learning curve, but as a Ducati satellite team member (Pramac Racing), he took five podiums and finished eighth in the points last year.
Ducati Corse has announced that Miller will finish what is left of 2020 as a Pramac rider, but will move up to the full factory squad for 2021. Here is the announcement from Ducati Corse:
Ducati Corse is pleased to announce that Jack Miller will be one of the two official Ducati Team riders in the 2021 MotoGP World Championship. The company from Borgo Panigale and the 25-year-old Australian rider have reached an agreement for next season with an option to extend the contract also for 2022.
Miller, who made his MotoGP debut in 2015 at just 20 years old, joined Ducati in 2018 with the Pramac Racing Team, the factory-supported team of the Bologna manufacturer, and finished last season eighth overall in the standings, taking five podiums during the year.
Jack Miller: “First of all I want to thank warmly Paolo Campinoti, Francesco Guidotti and all the Pramac Racing Team for the great support I have received from them in the two and a half years spent together. It is an honour for me to be able to continue my MotoGP career with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer and I would like to thank all the Ducati management, Claudio, Gigi, Paolo and Davide, for having trusted me and given me this incredible opportunity. I look forward to starting riding again this year, and I am ready to fully commit to the responsibility of being an official Ducati rider in 2021.”
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “Since he arrived in the Pramac Racing Team, Jack has grown steadily, proving himself one of the fastest and most talented riders in the championship. So we are happy that he has agreed to ride the official Desmosedici GP bike of the Ducati Team next year. We are convinced that Jack has all the right skills to fight continuously for the positions that matter, in every race, starting already this season with the Desmosedici GP20 of the Pramac Racing Team, and taking a further step forward next year thanks to the support of the Ducati Team.”
I became a Miller fan last year. In the past I thought he had made the move up too fast from his crash filled seasons in Moto3 and just didn’t have the temperament to make it in the big show. That changed last season and I believe he will do well with the factory team. Good on ya Jack.
Does he still wear his nickname stitched across his arse?
Never cared much for Miller because of his foul mouth. He is certainly a courageous rider, and has show flashes of talent. All the MotoGP riders are very talents, I’m referring to flashes of brilliance compared to the group.
Petrucci was/is a very hard working rider. It’s amazing what he has accomplished. Something snapped last year, and his results fell off the charts. Not sure what it was, but I wish him well.
Ding! Fries are done!
It’s pretty funny that there isn’t an American rider in Moto GP. They should market Miller as an honorary American because he sure looks like one and he speaks English that we can sort of understand. It’s probably hopeless because 145 pound guys just don’t sell as heroes in the US. Jack Miller the Ohio State QB at 210 fits the bill a lot better.
Yep, put one barrel chested he-man hero on a 300HP beast Moto GP bike and cut to the end of the scene. If he didn’t crash it in the first half mile, we’d see him pull into pit lane sobbing like a new born, leathers soiled and frozen on the bike in fear.
I guess there are different ways to look at the demographics in Moto GP. “Pretty funny” isn’t my take on no Yanks in the series but the up and coming guys have my interest. Moto America is a good feeder series to develop talent and there’ll be a few Americans who’ll make it to the top series soon.
210# is sorta dainty for a signal caller but then again it’s the demographics, ain’t it?
Petrucci won a race in 2019. Only 4 others (none named Miller) did the same.
Not just any race, either. Mugello. Dry race. Beat Dovi and Marquez, straight up, in fine style.
Indeed, and it wasn’t so long ago that we could only expect one of two or three men to win a race in any given season.
Petrucci won a race and he is usually in the mix.
I know he had a bad 2nd half of 2019 but seems like a bit of a bum deal for Petrucci, 1 win, 3 podiums, 176 pts, 6th in championship. Miller, 0 wins, 5 podiums, 165 points, 8th in championship.
It is a pretty bum deal. I guess they figure with Miller and his decent 2nd half of the season that he was starting to understand the Ducati well as opposed to Petrucci who was falling off of form. Being younger, I guess they figure that Miller has both more time to improve and be on top, though ironically I’m sure they’ll dump him immediately upon contract expiration if he doesn’t mount a serious title fight during his stint on the factory Duc.
I don’t mean to diminish Miller’s season at all. Like you Jeremy I have become a fan once he settled down. Seems real serious about racing. Best to both and may they have a season with no bad luck or unforced errors.
Problem for everyone though is Marquez 🙂
Petrucci was on a Factory bike while Miller wasn’t. Miller was consistently fast Petrucci wasn’t. I imagine Ducati are hopeful he can have similar success to other Australians that have ridden the Duke.
Pretty sure Miller had the same equipment as Petrucci last year. I’d agree with your comment otherwise though. I just thought Danilo deserved a little more time.
It’s the same model bike in name (the Desmosedici GP19) but with a totally different level of technical and parts support. The budget of the factory teams is multiples of even the biggest satellite and the technical support is completely different. How many satellite bikes have actually won races, even from the best funded teams?
Miller is younger, smaller and lighter than Petrucci and is on the ascent, not descent of his career. And Dovi’s also getting old and his results are going in the wrong direction too. Ducati needed to shake things up and Miller is the best choice they have currently.
Miller was on a full factory-spec bike in Pramac livery last season. Same situation Rossi will have on the Petronas bike in 2021.
Miller was not riding a second-tier satellite bike.
This may have been a problem with the bike, not the rider. We’ve seen lots more success from satellite teams in recent years. The Factory bike isn’t always the best.
I’m sure that he is real fast and a very nice guy…but when did wearing a hat just over the top of one’s ears become a thing?
It’s been a thing for a few years now. Many of the cool kids are doing it. Check out youtube, it was all over there for a long time.
Hopper started doing it years ago.
I’ve determined – the ear in hat thing – has to do with having big ears and a small head. Hopper would look like Micky Mouse if he didn’t tuck…
I can wear a hat just fine without the ear tuck but could never ride like Hopper. Guess the grass is always greener!
Poor Petrucci. I personally don’t think he has what it takes to be in a factory team, but it sure sucks that he didn’t have a 2020 season to prove me, and Ducati, wrong.
I’ve warmed up to Miller these past couple of years though I’m not convinced he can get it done either. He is a talented rider, but he seems to be missing that secret sauce that the top tier riders have. Maybe a factory bike is the secret sauce he needs. We’ll see.
Hello Jack, goodbye Dannilo.