Ducati closing on deal to promote Jack Miller to factory team

Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi has revealed the team is strongly considering promoting Jack Miller to its factory line-up for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship in the clearest hint yet of its plans.

Miller has been tipped to step up from his current satellite Ducati ride after his Pramac Racing manager Francesco Guidotti revealed he understood a deal was close to take the Australian up to the works outfit.

Though Tardozzi says no deal has been finalised as yet – only confirming the two seats will be held by currently contracted riders – he reveals there is a ‘strong possibility’ an agreement is forthcoming.

"We are thinking about Jack in the factory team," told BT Sport "We have to manage the situation because the riders that will join the factory team will be two of the five riders that are contracted with Ducati already. 

“Two of the five will be there. Jack did something very good at the end of the season, so we're thinking he could be a possibility. We are discussing internally about that, even with Jack, but no decisions have been made. 

“We’re very close to making a decision regarding Jack but nothing has been done yet."

Miller’s promotion would come at the expense of either Andrea Dovizioso or Danilo Petrucci.

Though Dovizioso – who is known to have a fractious relationship with certain members of Ducati’s top brass - has been linked with a move to KTM or Aprilia, it is understood he is nearing a deal to keep him in the team for 2021.

As such, Petrucci is thought to be the rider most likely to get the axe. The Italian starred during the early portion of 2019 in what was his first season with the Ducati factory team, famously winning his home Italian MotoGP race.

However, thereafter his form slid in tandem with Miller becoming a regular podium challenger on the Pramac Ducati.

Should Petrucci find himself out of a MotoGP ride, it is rumoured he will shift over to Ducati’s WorldSBK effort to replace Chaz Davies and join Scott Redding.