Jack Miller is leaving the Ducati Factory team after signing with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Australian rider was one of the most vital parts of the Ducati squad. Unfortunately, his championship hopes were undercut by inconsistent results; for instance, despite winning two races in a row in 2021, four DNFs left him in fourth place overall.
Miller recently secured a podium finish at the Silverstone Circuit alongside teammate Francesco Pecco Bagnaia. While the Italian took the top spot at the British Grand Prix, Miller finished third. So far this season, Miller has reached the podium four times in 12 races, placing him sixth in the championship chase.
Despite some fluctuating performances, Miller's greatest strength was his commitment to the team, which proved invaluable to Pecco Bagnaia during the 2021 and 2022 title runs. In the second half of the 2021 season, Miller frequently prioritized Bagnaia's position over his own.
Serving as a loyal teammate, the Australian often followed his lead rider to shield him from rivals attempting to overtake. This supportive role continued at the 2022 British Grand Prix, where Miller spent four laps guarding Bagnaia before eventually crossing the line in third place.
Because of 'Thriller Miller's' strategic support, Pecco secured the victory and closed the gap to championship leader Fabio Quartararo to just 49 points. During the post-race festivities, the candid Australian jokingly asked the Ducati garage, 'who will miss me?' Pecco Bagnaia replied with a bittersweet, 'we will miss you, bastardo.'
The 25-year-old Italian will miss more than just Miller's help in 2023. With hungry talents like Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martin competing for Miller's old seat, Pecco will now face stiffer competition from within his own garage. Unlike Miller, both Bastianini and Martin have world titles to their names—Bastianini won Moto3 in 2018 and Martin took the Moto2 crown in 2020. Meanwhile, Gresini Racing has already brought in Alex Marquez to replace Bastianini on the Ducati Desmosedici.
While Ducati hasn't officially named Jack Miller's successor, rumors suggest an announcement will come by the San Marino Grand Prix on September 4, 2022. Regardless of who takes the seat, the team—and especially Pecco Bagnaia—will certainly feel the void left by Miller.