Jack Miller will join the KTM factory team for the 2023 and 2024 MotoGP seasons after signing a two-year deal to race for the outfit.
This comes after Ducati decided to replace him with either Jorge Martin or Enea Bastianini for next year, the Australian rider has been extensively linked with a move to KTM.
Miller held talks with KTM and inked a deal to become Brad Binder’s teammate after replacing Miguel Oliveira. He preferred to remain a full factory rider rather than a satellite racer as he would be with Ducati.
After starting his MotoGP career with Honda in 2015, Miller has spent the last five years on a Ducati and as a factory rider since 2021. Miller gained a rare direct promotion to MotoGP after finishing second in the Moto3 class on a KTM the year before his premier class debut in 2015.
The fact that Ducati is looking to promote either Jorge Martin or Enea Bastianini to its factory team has become increasingly clear this season, and with Pecco Bagnaia locked in until the end of 2024, Miller was the natural choice to move aside.
“Of course, we’ve known Jack since he made a boom with Aki and our Moto3 program and it’s a big pleasure to bring a rider of his capabilities into our MotoGP structure, ” KTM director Pit Beirer said.
“He left us with a positive impression, and we’ve stayed in contact. Jack’s approach and attitude to racing are very similar to ours.”
“I am very proud that he comes back to Red Bull KTM again and he will be a great addition to our mission.”
In Ducati’s statement, Miller himself added: “It’s been a really important five years for me: together with Ducati, I’ve achieved several podiums, including two wins that I’ll never forget.”
“In addition to the two constructors’ world titles and the team title, last year.”
“I finished fourth in the Championship, and that was my best result ever in MotoGP. Together with the Pramac Racing Team and the Ducati Lenovo Team, I have grown a lot as a rider and year after year, I have always felt like the best version of myself.”
“Next year I will take on a new challenge, but right now, I want to think only about finishing this last season with my team in the best possible way.”
“I thank all of Ducati Corse, my team, Gigi, Paolo, Davide, and the people who have worked with me over these five seasons”.
Miller will also be reunited with KTM team manager Francesco Guidotti, whom he worked with for three years prior to his factory promotion in 2021 when racing for the Pramac Ducati squad.
Miller’s deal with KTM marks the third manufacturer he has raced for, having previously raced with Honda through its satellite entries run by LCR and Marc VDS Racing from his debut in 2015 until entering the Ducati fold in 2018 – including a single win on the RC213-V at a drenched Assen in 2016.
He snagged a factory slot for the 2021 season as a replacement for Danilo Petrucci after winning his second and third career victories back-to-back at Jerez and Le Mans.
Miguel Oliveira’s future is not yet clear after turning down an offer to switch to KTM’s satellite organisation Tech 3 after an inconsistent last two seasons with the factory team.
However, Miller’s announcement is expected to kick off a wave of confirmations regarding the 2023 MotoGP field, with Oliveira looking favourable to join Gresini Ducati after a meeting with the team in Spain last weekend.
