Jack Miller hits back at ‘bulls**t’ rumours over Ducati MotoGP future

Jack Miller has turned the ire around to journalists questioning his plans for the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season ahead of this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP, saying he doesn’t understand why he has to deal with ‘bulls**t’ and others don’t.

The Australian comes into the 2022 MotoGP season considered one of the favourites for the title after his Ducati team appeared to consolidate its strong end-of-2021 season form to emerge the pick of the bikes in pre-season testing

However, he is also one of the riders for whom the opening few rounds will be critical in order to retain his ride for the 2023 MotoGP season following an indifferent 2021 campaign and a wealth of talent waiting in the wings among Ducati’s satellite ranks.

It’s a status Miller says he is becoming frustrated with, bemoaning that he starts the year fielding similar questions each time.

"I see my situation the same as it is every year. Every year around this time every journalist in the world starts to write shit about me, how I'm going to lose my job, how I'm done. Writing me off. So it's just the same as it ever was.

"There's nothing I can do, no control I have over that. So all I can do is the best job I can on track and if I keep my job, I keep my job. If I don’t, I don’t.

"It's just the same bullshit that I have to deal with every year. I don’t understand why I have to deal with it and others don’t, but it's okay. I'll accept that, continue on."

Why Jack Miller might struggle to retain MotoGP ride

It’s potentially going to take something special from Jack Miller in the opening rounds to secure a stay of execution on the Ducati factory for 2023, regardless of his somewhat aggravated clap back at the media.

Whereas Miller has always been aiming through a clear upward trajectory when questions about his future have emerged, the future beyond the Ducati factory seems a bit uncertain.

You can understand his frustration though at the prospect of saying ciao at this stage. After three years pedalling the Pramac Ducati, his move to the factory team may have coincided not only with the manufacturer coming good with possibly the fastest machine on the 2022 grid, but there is some exciting fresh blood champing at his heels too.

Trouble is, while Miller might have the measure of the man tipped to replace him in Jorge Martin, the Spaniard might force Ducati’s hand with his own ultimatum of a factory deal or he’ll shop elsewhere for 2023. Ducati is certainly keen on the youngster, though even Martin has his own inter-team battle with Enea Bastianini to contend with.

On the other hand,Miller rather be fighting for his seat on a strong bike than otherwise, but with Pecco Bagnaia having already bagged a deal for the next two seasons, Miller will have to defeat or at least match the Italian early on to put a strong case forward.