Jack Miller Reflects on His Departure from KTM, Targets Ducati Return
Jack Miller, the Australian MotoGP rider, has opened up about his departure from KTM, expressing his disappointment and surprise at not being offered a new contract. Miller, who has been with the KTM team since 2018, claimed that he was led to believe he would be retained, only to receive a call three hours before the official announcement was made stating that he would not be offered a contract.
“I was surprised. It was surprising because the last thing I heard was: ‘Don’t bother talking to anyone because we want to keep you in the family.’ And then I got a call three hours before the press release was released telling me that I wouldn’t have a contract. So I was surprised. But that’s how it is,” Miller said in Assen.
Despite not being offered a contract by KTM, Miller believes he has given a lot to the team, despite not achieving a win. “As I said, I have not come to this team to come and go for two years. I left the most competitive bike on the grid (Ducati) to bring my knowledge. And I feel that what we brought was of great value to improve the bike,” he said.
Miller made it clear that he is keen on returning to Ducati, with which he has a good relationship. “I have a very good relationship with Gigi Dall’Igna, Domenicali and more people. I have no doubt that if I returned to this bike, almost instantly he would be in the top five,” he claimed. He has already been offered a seat with Gresini.
Miller also dismissed the possibility of retiring and becoming a tester, as some of his peers have done. “I want a long-term project to finish my final years strong,” he said.
In a recent interview on DAZN, Miller took a swipe at fellow rider Fabio Quartararo, who recently signed a lucrative contract with Yamaha. “One that ended up behind me in the previous race just signed for 12 million, so I’m sure I will be able to find a job,” he said, referring to Quartararo’s reported six-figure annual salary.