Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

WRC Finland: Ogier in command after torrential rain shakes up order

WRC
Rally Finland
WRC Finland: Ogier in command after torrential rain shakes up order

New commercial rights holder announced for the WRC and ERC in landmark deal

WRC
Rally Finland
New commercial rights holder announced for the WRC and ERC in landmark deal

The principles Stella holds dear at McLaren to make the F1 team tick

Feature
Formula 1
The principles Stella holds dear at McLaren to make the F1 team tick

The challenge Haas faces in trying to meet F1 budget cap: "Fighting with both hands tied"

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
The challenge Haas faces in trying to meet F1 budget cap: "Fighting with both hands tied"

Top 10 McLaren F1 cars ranked: MCL39, M23, MP4/4 and more

Feature
Formula 1
Top 10 McLaren F1 cars ranked: MCL39, M23, MP4/4 and more

WRC Rally Finland: Ogier claims lead after incident-packed morning

WRC
Rally Finland
WRC Rally Finland: Ogier claims lead after incident-packed morning

How Pirelli will deal with F1’s unexpected return to Sepang

Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
How Pirelli will deal with F1’s unexpected return to Sepang

Thailand to host MotoGP 2027 season opener

MotoGP
Thailand to host MotoGP 2027 season opener

Miller 'won't accept' year-old Pramac bike for 2020 MotoGP deal

Jack Miller says he "wouldn't accept" a year-old bike if he is to stay with the Pramac team next season, as Ducati's decision on its 2020 MotoGP line-up nears

He is currently vying for the seat alongside Andrea Dovizioso at the works Ducati squad next year, though his hopes took a knock when former teammate Danilo Petrucci won at Mugello.

Miller's situation has been further complicated by a clause in stablemate Francesco Bagnaia's contract, which guarantees him a GP20 for his sophomore campaign.

Why Ducati must stick with Petrucci

With Petrucci's place at the factory team looking more secure, Ducati's current arrangement with Pramac would need to change if it is to be supplied with two GP20s.

Miller says a decision on Ducati's future plans is due by the Dutch TT, and is adamant he would not accept lesser machinery to Bagnaia if he is stay with Pramac.

"No, I wouldn't agree to that," he said when asked if he would agree to race a GP19 next year.

"I feel I've done my apprenticeship, and I need to be on the factory bike to fight these guys.

"I've been on the satellite bikes and I've been on the older bikes, and it's not easy, especially at the level MotoGP is at and how much each bike is developing each year.

"If you are on a year behind you are already starting on the back foot.

"If I'm gonna stay here, my main goal is to be the number one rider. I think I deserve it, and I feel that's how it should be."

Despite the uncertainty over Pramac's current bike situation, Miller believes there is enough possibility for him to also receive a GP20 - but will insist on only signing a one-year deal to get "back in sync" with the factory contracts, which expire at the end of next season.

"It's a financial matter and everything, but I feel I've proved myself enough, I deserve the bike already," he added.

"Danilo got his first podium at Le Mans, I got my first podium in Texas on the same bike.

"So I feel I've proved myself enough in order to keep being a satellite factory bike, but I deserve an up-to-date factory Ducati.

"I feel that, I think the Ducati bosses feel that. They're not idiots, they know what they need to do, and we've spoken about it.

"I think we're all on the same page, it's now a matter of really wait and see what their plan is.

"If I'm gonna stay here [Pramac], I've said it all along I only want to sign a one-year contract, because I feel it gives me extra motivation for the year after; it makes me want to work harder.

"It gives me a better opportunity for next year, and I need to fucking sync up with these other guys' contracts, because the last three contracts I've done have been with very limited options."

Previous article Why Ducati must stick with Petrucci
Next article Honda won't radically change its MotoGP bike to suit Lorenzo

Top Comments

Latest news