The news has been rumored for several weeks, but now it is finally official, as Jack Miller will move from the satellite Pramac Ducati team, and join the factory Ducati Corse MotoGP team for the 2021 season.
The news almost certainly means the departure of Danilo Petrucci from the team, though it remains to be seen if Ducati will also retain the services of Andrea Dovizioso for next season, as the Italian is said to be scouting other offers.
Good bets would be placed on Dovizioso remaining in the squad through next season though, which means Miller can count on the veteran Ducati as a teammate for the 2021 championship.
“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,” said Jack Miller.
“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, and I am ready to fully commit to the responsibility of being an official Ducati rider in 2021,” the Australian added.
Struggling for results last year, it remains to be seen where Danilo Petrucci will land next year, with his future in MotoGP certainly in question. The WorldSBK Championship could certainly be a possibility, perhaps with Ducati as a replacement for Chaz Davies, who has struggled on the Panigale V4 R.
That is news for another day though, and quotes from Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali don’t shed anymore light on Ducati’s rider lineup, which leaves us only to speculate.
“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,” Domenicali is quoted as saying in the Ducati Corse team press release.
“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 right 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.”
Source: Ducati Corse; Photo: MotoGP
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