Podium and two scares for Miller in his 'cameo' in SBK in Australia

December 6, 2021

While most of the MotoGP grid take a break from the recently finished season, Ducati factory team rider Jack Miller donned his suit again this weekend at the final round of the Australian Superbike Championship ( ASBK) at The Bend Circuit, as a wild card .

The goal was to have fun and race again in front of the local fans after not being able to do it in his country since October 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ducati gave him permission to compete in the ASBK and provided him with a pair of Panigale V4Rs.

From the first practice session it was clear that Miller was one of the best drivers and that he had a chance of winning. However, a crash in free practice slowed down the Australian’s performance. The #43 lost the front gear and went to the ground, without major consequences.

Jack Miller, Ducati Corse

In qualifying on Saturday, Miller came within 0.721s of pole. His teammate Wayne Maxwell was clearly faster and left him second on the grid. The 39-year-old entered both races as the favorite and won both, thus also securing the 2021 ASBK title.

Scare in the first race

In the first moto, Miller had a major romp. In his fight for the podium, Miller collided with Yamaha rider Aiden Waigner and crashed. The two made several laps on the gravel and the monkey’s airbag prevented greater evils. In the second race, the MotoGP rider was able to start with the spare bike and, after a bad start, he finished third.

“I had a ton of fun,” Miller said of his ASBK experience. “Very well, in the first race it wasn’t so much fun when I crashed. But I was able to fight. Luckily we had a spare bike.”

With a better start, Miller could have gotten even more than third place. “I don’t like the standard start control and I think I can do better myself,” he said. In reference to the competitiveness in the ASBK, these were his words: “The level is very high. There is no doubt that Wayne is a great driver.”