“IT’S NICE TO FEEL WANTED”
For the first time in years, Jack Miller can look ahead to a future settled, both professionally and personally. It’s been a busy year for the Australian on both fronts. Having learned there was no room for him in Ducati’s factory team in 2023 at the Spanish Grand Prix in May, the Australian inked a two-year deal with KTM a fortnight later. Away from the track, he has made plans to settle down with partner Ruby Mau after getting engaged in March.
Both factors have given the 27-year old peace of mind. Signed to one-year deals in each of his five seasons at Ducati – “a young man’s game” as he described it – Miller was forever dogged by questions regarding his future plans. “I remember coming to (Misano) last year and a journalist asked me what my plans were for 2023 – what the f***?! We hadn’t even gotten through 2021, let alone 2022,” he said.
It wasn’t always easy to remain calm in such circumstances. But with a contract signed for 2023 and ’24, the Miller AMCN encountered on the eve of the San Marino Grand Prix appeared a more relaxed, assured figure than before. There is an awareness of his strengths and weaknesses, and an honesty when speaking of them. And there is still a bite, too. A Ducati employee sat in on our interview held just after Ducati confirmed Enea Bastianini as Miller’s replacement. After speaking of his move to KTM, Jack was advised to limit comments on next year.
