Miller "left in the dark" by Ducati over his MotoGP future

It would make sense. Miller has had plenty of opportunity to show what he has and he has.

We are living in an era where there is a lot of talent coming up and the riders are better and better. They are really building on what has been learned so far and pushing it to the next level regarding fitness, training, etc.

I think right now we are going through a transition period with the manufacturers, team members and sponsors. Not a sure thing and history does not often repeat itself exactly, but I think it’s possible that in a couple of years time we enter a new era of “aliens”, where the top riders, crew chiefs, sponsors and engineers gravitate to the best bikes and teams and stay there, developing the bikes to their strengths and building a kind of legacy.

I am enjoying the relative unpredictability of the current situation.

I'm wondering where would Jack go? Satellite Ducati? LCR Honda? I agree with Martin to factory and Bastianini to Pramac but then who would be the other Pramac rider? Zarco will be gone. Silly season will be interesting.

According to Jack he has plenty of options to stay in MotoGP for 2023.

Bern1 said:

According to Jack he has plenty of options to stay in MotoGP for 2023.

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Yea, I read that but was trying to figure out where. Can't see him going to Suzuki. KTM is full. Maybe Ducati will put 2 more bikes on the grid.

PRS717 said:

I'm wondering where would Jack go? Satellite Ducati? LCR Honda? I agree with Martin to factory and Bastianini to Pramac but then who would be the other Pramac rider? Zarco will be gone. Silly season will be interesting.

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Back to Pramac with an upgraded contract. Or maybe factory Yamaha if Franco keeps having a horrid time.

MichaelBolton said:

Back to Pramac with an upgraded contract. Or maybe factory Yamaha if Franco keeps having a horrid time.

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Don't forget about Toprak. He's going to test on a MotoGP bike. I'm thinking Pramac will be saying; "been there, done that" when it comes to Jack. There are younger riders with more upside, IMHO.

PRS717 said:

Don't forget about Toprak. He's going to test on a MotoGP bike. I'm thinking Pramac will be saying; "been there, done that" when it comes to Jack. There are younger riders with more upside, IMHO.

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Totally agree with this. The on ramp for a MotoGP career is short and steep. Show me that you have the goods right now. If you can’t deliver right away with consistency, somebody else will. Especially on a machine that is regarded as being one of the best on the grid, if not the best.

Moto2 rider Hector Faubel, who just turned 17, told MotoGP journos that 2 MotoGP Factories made him an offer but he's staying in Moto2 for 2023. That's two places Jack could go but they want the youngster. Now what factories could they be? Suzuki & Yamaha?

I declined 3 big money seats myself this year.
So Gigi, if you're reading this : I'm available.

Miller has an outsiders vibe to me. He grew up in Townsville, and it seems like he is aware that motorcycle racing isn’t really that important.

He’s surrounded by people for whom MotoGP is their religion and the factory is their cult. I have a feeling they don’t know what to do with a sane person, like Jack, so they keep him in the dark.

Jack is not a true believer

PRS717 said:

Moto2 rider Hector Faubel, who just turned 17, told MotoGP journos that 2 MotoGP Factories made him an offer but he's staying in Moto2 for 2023. That's two places Jack could go but they want the youngster. Now what factories could they be? Suzuki & Yamaha?

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Fernandez by all reports wanted to stay in moto 2 as well. he was correct imo, I don't think satellite KTM rides are going to advance his career or Gardner's, certainly not compared with being the moto 2 champion, and Miller's initial Honda ride on an uncompetitive (?CRT) bike straight from moto 3 probably wasn't the best move for his career either.

Jack's ride last year probably was the best bike on the grid though, and while he had some bad luck, on two occasions spelt Mir, Bagnaia looked considerably better.

What has Miller done so far to be worth of that seat?

Nothing.

Tons of talents growing and coming in. This is business, not an entertainment show.

Bye bye.

I like him.
They want a championship though.
He won't be delivering one is the bottom line.

warthog1 said:

I like him.
They want a championship though.
He won't be delivering one is the bottom line.

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Of course this, even among those currently riding Ducatis Martin and maybe Bastianini might win a title on a factory Ducati. You would only have Jack as a Ducati factory rider to play the Edwards role if Bagnaia was capable of the Rossi role.

gui22a said:

What has Miller done so far to be worth of that seat?

Nothing.

Tons of talents growing and coming in. This is business, not an entertainment show.

Bye bye.

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Won 2 races last year and 3 in total, 4th in the championship last year, but I agree hasn't justified possibly the top factory ride with the other talent which is around, even just the talent currently riding Ducatis. He has also had a specific problem riding a Ducati ie that he mostly hasn't been able to make tires last till the end of a race.

michaelm said:

Of course this, even among those currently riding Ducatis Martin and maybe Bastianini might win a title on a factory Ducati. You would only have Jack as a Ducati factory rider to play the Edwards role if Bagnaia was capable of the Rossi role.

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They appear to have considered him for a possible title role earlier.
On a satellite bike and improving to earn his place on the factory seat. Now that he is there he isn't progressing.

I don't see them as wanting someone on a very expensive seat who isn't likely to give them a title.
Their recent history isn't supporting that theory.
There is talent coming through that shows more promise.
If their business plan is to win the title, and it appears to be, it makes business sense to put someone else there.

gui22a said:

What has Miller done so far to be worth of that seat?

Nothing.

Tons of talents growing and coming in. This is business, not an entertainment show.

Bye bye.

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Interesting take in so many ways and I outright admit bias here but Miller has more race wins than many in the title (including World Champions - ie. Mir has 1 race win), and during last year, when his season was a long shot well before season was over he stated and followed up on it with full support for Bagnaia. A team mate who does this is a team man you would want

he has had a full factory ride for 2 years only (+1 year on full factory supported at Pramac) where he produced a number of podiums.

He has more race wins in the MotoGP class than Aleix Esparagaro who has been on factory bikes since 2015 with satellites prior for a total of 200 starts, Pol Espargaro (138 starts) who has had 6 years on full factory (KTM/HRC) and produced 0 wins.

Jack has had 120 MotoGP race starts for 3 wins and yet always seems to be the one under the pump when we have riders who have not had his level of results yet more race starts, which is unfortunate for Jack and I suspect so much of it is because he has a decent profile as a likable larrikin and also as he skipped moto2.

Me, I have never seen Jack as a world champion but then, very few will get that chance but he is to me in the next rung down yet is always under the pump to 'prove his worth' whereas others seem to get a much easier pass mark. Maybe nationality has a lot to do with it, maybe it is expectations or maybe it is just that we armchair critics always seem to feel we know best when the paddock is in a better position.

Personally, and again total bias but this year Ducati have I feel made it very obvious that they will move on from Jack as they made it very clear by supporting Bagnaia's preferences where they were placing their future. They apologies to bagnaia after the stuff up with set-up but not to Jack for their electronic f-up, pretty obvious and for me, is the reason Jack should move and I hope it is to a strong team.

All this just smacks more of Ducati doing Ducati things, and we all know what happened last time they put all their eggs in the 'Italian Rider on a Ducti to win the championship' basket