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

michaelm · Apr 10, 2022

Gaz said:
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

I basically agree with you as is very often the case but am sure Ducati see at least Martin and Bastianini as better prospects. Given their track record it is entirely possible they are wrong. It certainly wasn’t Jack’s fault that Bagnaia didn’t win the riders title last year, and they did win the manufacturers title. It wasn’t entirely Jack’s fault he was out of contention early either, iirc the tear off thing finished him in one race, and I totally don’t accept that Mir had a right to punt him/use him as a berm because he was the defending champion and the Ducati was faster on the straights, which seemed to be Mir’s attitude and affected 2 other races. I think Martin has title winning potential, and possibly Bastianini as well, but whether these guys and even Bagnaia can handle being the lead rider and a title favourite is another question; I have some doubts about Bagnaia so far this year which I didn’t have last year, and wonder if he has even made the right choice on the bike/engine.

If Jack could maintain his one lap pace in qualifying or early in races through whole races this wouldn’t be in question, but except for the wins last year he very often fades on old tires, and I can’t blame Ducati for looking elsewhere in view of this being a persistent problem throughout his Ducati tenure.

michaelm · Apr 10, 2022

double

michaelm · Apr 10, 2022

triple

Gaz · Apr 10, 2022

michaelm said:
If Jack could maintain his one lap pace in qualifying or early in races through whole races this wouldn’t be in question, but except for the wins last year he very often fades on old tires, and I can’t blame Ducati for looking elsewhere in view of this being a persistent problem throughout his Ducati tenure.

Don't blame Ducati either but I do question the mentality of not allowing a team to settle and in Miller's (and he is the latest) case they seem to not have shown the support that may make Miller feel comfortable that his neck is not always on the chopping block (mind you, if single season contract's is Millers choice that does not help).

I also question the Ducati mentality of throwing bikes into the paddock as we have seen as quantity is good but it can also lessen the quality of the riders which can give false impressions, or it can take points of your prime riders at bad times.

It is fair that Miller is not consistent and often does fade, but across the last few seasons consistency is lacking everywhere.

Heck, I even saw a post somewhere wanting to know who will be the first rider in 2022 to get 2 podiums - 4 races in, 9 podium spots used and not 1 rider has had 2 of those 9 - sure, it may be a good thing in terms of competitiveness, but it is also not really that great consistency wise - weird times

michaelm · Apr 10, 2022

Gaz said:
Don't blame Ducati either but I do question the mentality of not allowing a team to settle and in Miller's (and he is the latest) case they seem to not have shown the support that may make Miller feel comfortable that his neck is not always on the chopping block (mind you, if single season contract's is Millers choice that does not help).

I also question the Ducati mentality of throwing bikes into the paddock as we have seen as quantity is good but it can also lessen the quality of the riders which can give false impressions, or it can take points of your prime riders at bad times.

It is fair that Miller is not consistent and often does fade, but across the last few seasons consistency is lacking everywhere.

Heck, I even saw a post somewhere wanting to know who will be the first rider in 2022 to get 2 podiums - 4 races in, 9 podium spots used and not 1 rider has had 2 of those 9 - sure, it may be a good thing in terms of competitiveness, but it is also not really that great consistency wise - weird times

Certainly not the motor racing you and I were brought up on, if Brock was better by 9 laps at Bathurst I had no problem with him winning by 9 laps.

Jack actually seems to be among the most consistent qualifiers, him not being able to carry his pace through a race is the problem which I see. Quite likely it has never been a priority for Ducati to work with him on this though, and given they eventually decided both Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo weren’t up to scratch rather than that their bike might have issues I guess he may be in good company.

Segfault · Apr 11, 2022

I'm not sure as I haven't been in Ducati garage, but Jack seems to be the sort of dude who keeps the team together with his easygoing personality. This is something money can't buy.

warthog1 · Apr 12, 2022

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1...erence-pramac-or-factory-it-doesn-t-bother-me

"I’m just here to ride my motorbike and do the best I can. That's all," Miller said of his future. "If I get a job next year with Ducati, it is what it is. I’d be more than happy to stick around. I love the group I’m with."

" I’m just focused on this year and trying to do the best job I can do."

The triple premier-class race winner didn't rule out the idea of retuning to Pramac, which also runs factory-spec machinery.

"I wouldn’t care. As you can tell, the bikes are all good. They’re fantastic. I know for a fact that they’re [Pramac] on the same equipment," Miller said.

"It doesn’t bother me. As long as I’m getting the opportunity to fight for podiums and be here with all the fans, living my dream, that’s the main part."

They can't ask for more easy going than that.

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