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MotoGP, Miller: the Ducati offer came at the right time

The Honda Marc VDS rider reveals the details of negotiations that got underway months ago: "it was time for a change, I feel ready and excited"

MotoGP: Miller: the Ducati offer came at the right time

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The Austrian Grand Prix finished in the gravel trip for Jack Miller, who collected another zero at the Red Bull Ring, after those of Jerez and Barcelona, during what is a difficult season for him.

But the Australian, riding for team Marc VDS, remains upbeat: “the race was positive for me, despite the crash that prevented me from finishing. I'm pleased - I didn't hurt myself and in the race I started well from nineteenth place, quickly making up six places; I was the best placed privateer Honda and I had a good rhythm” then, though: “the rear tyre started to deteriorate rapidly, causing me to crash at Turn 9 during lap 20”.

Jack is realistic when analysing the race: “it was the toughest race of the season, for us - reveals Miller- because the long straights and tight turns caused trouble for our bike, on exiting the slow turns the Honda was wheelieing and sliding a lot. The Red Bull Ring suits the powerful bikes and the next, more 'normal' tracks will be easier for us”.

Miller's high spirits are not down to yesterday's bad result though but to news that had been in the air for a while: the Australian rider and the Ducati Pramac have come to an agreement for the 2018 season, concluding negotiations that had started with the Australian asking too high a figure.

Team Pramac initially turned Miller down, but team and rider then sat down for further discussions: “I can now tell everyone what I'll be doing in 2018… next year I'll be with team Pramac Ducati along new team-mate Danilo Petrucci - ‘Jackass is more than satisfied - negotiations between me and the team started during Jerez and it took time to reach an agreement, I'm pleased with how it's all gone”.

Clearly the Italian team's offer came at the right time for Miller: “I had an option to stay with team Marc VDS, and it wouldn't have been a bad decision  - states the Australian  -but it was time to change something in my career and I felt that the Ducati offer was the right one”.

Miller will replace Scott Redding, with whom he exchanged words on twitter, with the Englishman accusing the Australian: “you've taken my bike and my women”, to which Miller responded in kind.

The mind of the number 43 rider is already on next year: “It's exciting to think about 2018 with Ducati, the move to team Pramac comes at the right time, coming at a good moment in my career. We've seen how Andrea Dovizioso has won with the factory bike in Austria and the satellite version of the Desmosedici is not so different - I'm pumped up and have a good feeling about how I'll go with Ducati Pramac”.

There are still seven races to run with the Honda though: “I'm pleased that the news is finally out, because now I can focus on the remaining races. My aim was, and still is, to finish in the final top ten”.

Miller often appears to be an out of the ordinary, curt guy, while in reality the Australian thinks very highly of those who have supported him:I'll never forget what team Marc VDS has done for me - states Jack- last year's win at Assen is one we'll remember for the rest of our careers”.

 

 

 

Translated by Heather Watson
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