MotoGP Pramac Ducati: Jack Miller no longer has a choice but sets his conditions

Until the last Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, the game was open at Ducati to see who Petrucci or Miller would be Dovizioso's teammate in 2020. Since Petrux's victory at home, there is no longer any debate so much so that the Australian finds himself with no other option than to renew where he is. Miller understands this, but he will not sign without setting his conditions…

Jack Miller was off to a good start in this internal competition organized by Ducati for the position within the factory team alongside Dovi. He was on the podium in Texas, before Petrucci don't take his. But the Italian won at home and here he is fourth in the championship. While the Pramac driver is sixth.

He is in his fifth campaign in MotoGP and at 24 years old, he is no longer considered a successor who no longer identifies with a fabio quartararo 20 years old or Joan mir 21 years old. He has the young bagnaia as a teammate and his Pramac team negotiated with Alex Marquez. The career of Miller must go through a factory handlebar to experience its peak. But it won’t be for 2020 at Ducati…

« I was at the factory recently, it was weight distribution testing. My general feeling is that they invested a lot of money in Danilo, they see what he does, so he has excellent opportunities »Comments Miller. " If I won three races in a row now, I could still be in favor with Ducati. But I heard that they will decide in the very near future ».

He therefore no longer really has any options: “ we have to wait. Of course we talk to different people. But the situation is not clear. I have nowhere else to go unless something unexpected happens. I like where I am. I like the team, I like Ducati. My preferred solution is to stay here, but I insist on the package I need. Otherwise I have to look elsewhere ».

Which brings us to the conditions… “ I just want a one-year contract because it gives me extra motivation. Then I work harder and make efforts to find the best possible solution for 2021. After a good 2020 season, I could be in a good negotiating position. In recent years, I have always had very few options for new contracts ».

So much for time. But there is also the material: “ If I stay at Pramac, my main goal is to be the No. 1 driver of the team. I think this is what I deserve. Pecco signed a contract stipulating that he will have a 2020 motorcycle next season. My intention is also to get a 2020 Ducati and receive the updates first ».

« I'm confident I can get a 2020 Ducati. It's a question of money, but I've proven enough that I deserve a latest generation Ducati, even if it's on a satellite team. That's my feeling. I imagine the Ducati bosses think the same thing. They are not idiots. We talked to them about it. Now we wait for what exactly they are planning and what their response will look like ».

How exactly would it be different from his status today? “ I have a GP19 like Dovi and Danilo, I get new parts, we are competitive. But sometimes I test new material. We then have to return it and we don't know when we will get it back. I think I have completed my apprenticeship here. I am now in year five on a satellite team. Now I want a bike that I can fight up front. It's not easy with old machines ».

This week-end, Miller will return to the Assen track, where he won a resounding victory in the rain in 2016. His only achievement in MotoGP to date.