MotoGP: Miller Joins Factory Ducati Team For 2021

Jack Miller will step up to the official Ducati MotoGP Team in 2021, Ducati Corse announced on Wednesday.

The Australian penned a one-year deal with the option to extent the contract into 2022.

Confirmation of Miller’s promotion has been expected after Ducati dropped hints in recent days that the 25-year-old is set to replace Danilo Petrucci at the factory outfit.

Speaking about his move to the official Ducati squad Miller said:

“First of all I want to thank warmly Paolo Campinoti, Francesco Guidotti and all the Pramac Racing Team for the great support I have received from them in the two and a half years spent together.

“It is an honour for me to be able to continue my MotoGP career with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer and I would like to thank all the Ducati management, Claudio, Gigi, Paolo and Davide, for having trusted me and given me this incredible opportunity. I look forward to starting riding again this year, I am ready to fully commit to the responsibility of being an official Ducati rider in 2021.”

Jack Miller

Miller made his MotoGP debut with LCR Honda in 2015 after being promoted straight from the Moto3 series and moved on to full-spec machinery with Marc VDS Honda for 2016 and -17.

During the 2016 season he achieved a shock maiden MotoGP victory in wet conditions at Assen, becoming the first Australian to win a MotoGP race since Casey Stoner in 2012 and the first satellite rider to stand on the top step of the podium since Toni Elias in 2006.

Since switching manufacturers and joining the Pramac Ducati Team in 2018, Miller enjoyed consistent success and reached the podium five times last season to finish a career best eighth in the overall standings.

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali commented on the deal saying:

“Since he arrived in the Pramac Racing Team, Jack has grown steadily, proving himself one of the fastest and most talented riders in the championship. So we are happy that he has agreed to ride the official Desmosedici GP bike of the Ducati Team next year.

“We are convinced that Jack has all the skills to fight continuously for the positions that matter, in every race, starting already this season with the Desmosedici GP20 of the Pramac Racing Team, and taking a further step forward next year thanks to the support of the Ducati Team.”

Claudio Domenicali

It is still unclear who will partner Miller in the factory squad. Ducati are yet to reach an agreement for a contract extension with Andrea Dovizioso while Danilo Petrucci is rumoured to be set to join the Ducati WSBK effort.