Jack Miller will make the leap to the KTM factory team with an agreement that will be valid for 2023 and 2024. In this way, the Australian rider ends a 5-year history with Ducati, courses in which he has shared many of his best moments on two wheels.
The 27-year-old’s departure accelerates the search for a new contract inside the red garage, as the move by the Austrian factory leaves a vacant seat on the Ducati factory team.
“I feel very happy to have gotten the place at KTM and to be able to spend two more years here,” Miller said in the first meeting after the official statement. “I am very happy with what awaits me. This is a great opportunity for me, I will change the scene and try something different.”
Starting a new path at KTM has not been a bed of roses for the rider from Australia, who had to think very carefully about his decision before formalizing his departure.
“I don’t hold a grudge against anyone, I always try to go out through the big door. The decision was influenced by having knowledge about the structure that they have in KTM. I was weighing the options and, with the age that I am right now, 27 years I feel like I’ve done a lot, but I still have more to deliver. I was weighing my options and I didn’t make a decision in haste.”
However, Miller will continue to be part of the Italian garage as an active Ducati rider until the end of the year. This means that, for twelve races, the Australian will do his best to fight for points with Pecco Bagnaia as his garage mate.
“We have races ahead of us, so I will be a Ducati rider until then, although the change will be very positive. Before the announcement was released, I went to talk to the team and explained what was going to happen and at what point. It’s been exciting, because wearing the red Ducati colors is something I’ve wanted for a long time and to have to leave it behind is emotional.”
Despite not being able to hide his enthusiasm for starting a new path in MotoGP, the Australian rider was full of praise when talking about Borgo Panigale during the press conference for the tenth round of the year.
“I’ve been at Ducati for quite some time. I’ve had a great experience. We’ve had good races, with ups and downs, but I feel very grateful. For everything they’ve taught me this time. It’s been fantastic and I wouldn’t change it at all. It’s a solid project with a lot of people eager to see good results”.
In this way, the Australian is focused on completing a positive weekend for Ducati, especially after landing on a circuit that is not entirely favorable for the Italian factory.
To pursue this objective, Ducati will put into practice what has been learned in the tests, held last week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
“In Barcelona we tested things in testing and there couldn’t have been a better time to do it. We had had the winter tests and I had been working. On Monday we had a lot more rubber on the track, but we were still able to move forward and played with the geometry and the position on the bike. I think it was a very successful test. Normally I hate tests, but I loved this one”, concluded the Australian.
