Jack Miller sharpens pen for new deal, Ducati mulls eight 2022 MotoGP entries

Jack Miller is reportedly close to securing an extension to his Ducati MotoGP contract after a strong upturn in form yielded two victories that bounce with an announcement rumoured for this week.

After three seasons establishing himself as a regular front runner on the satellite Pramac Ducati, Miller was promoted to the factory set-up for 2021 in a fresh line-up alongside Pecco Bagnaia.

After a slow start to the year, which included a crash at Portimao, Miller scored his first Ducati win in the Spanish MotoGP - five years after his maiden success on a Honda at Assen - before an emphatic wet weather triumph in France made it two-in-a-row.

The nature of those wins has certainly impressed those - including some inside Ducati itself - of Miller’s candidacy as a team leader, even if at this stage he is currently ranked as the third best placed Ducati behind team-mate Bagnaia and Pramac’s Johann Zarco.

With Bagnaia and Zarco also seemingly close to an extension as well after their own impressive - albeit winless - openings, at least Miller is expected to be confirmed in the run up to this week’s Italian MotoGP at Mugello, Ducati’s home event.

Ducati prepared to supply eight MotoGP bikes in 2022

Ducati MotoGP boss Paolo Ciabatti, meanwhile, says the manufacturer is willing to swell its resources to get eight bikes on the grid in 2022 amid discussions with teams about supplying beyond the factory and Pramac Racing efforts.

“We have already done it in the past, we think we can manage it,” Ciabatti told GPOne.com.

As it stands, there are six Ducati entries on the grid - more than any other manufacturer - with Avintia Racing now receiving an official supply having previously purchased its bikes and run them privately.

Rumours suggest VR46 is lining up either a takeover of Avintia’s two entries for 2022, though it could also purchase additional entries. However, it is also known team owner Valentino Rossi is discussing a potential Yamaha supply instead.

Team Gresini is also a potential target having given Aprilia will split from the outfit in favour of taking the factory effort in-house to Noale from 2022. Nevertheless, it is known Gresini is also keen to continue with Aprilia machinery as a sister satellite effort.