Jack Miller has spoken up in support of Darryn Binder’s rumoured promotion from Moto3 all the way to MotoGP, saying he has the ‘balls and skills’ to make the sizeable leap.
With the Sepang Racing Team - which loses Petronas backing for 2022 - likely to be on the hunt for two riders next season in place of Franco Morbidelli (who is expected to be promoted to the Yamaha Factory squad) and the retiring Valentino Rossi, the Malaysian outfit is having to think outside the box for its options.
As such, latest paddock rumours have placed the team’s Moto3 rider Binder into candidacy, where he would join his brother and KTM Factory rider Brad Binder on the grid.
Though an unprecedented move, it wouldn’t be the first time a rider has made such a jump with Miller getting the nod to go from Moto3 to MotoGP with LCR Honda in 2015, albeit on a production-engined CRT specification bike.
Joking that he wouldn’t want another rider to replicate his feat, Miller - a three-time MotoGP race winner - says Binder shouldn’t turn down the chance if it comes his way.
"No, not a fan. Don't want anyone stealing my thunder… Only joking!" Miller told reporters at the Austrian MotoGP, including Visordown’s sister publication Crash.net.
"Sure, someone like Darryn Binder, if he's got the opportunity, why not? I think he's got balls, that's for certain. And he's got skill, that's for certain. So sure.
"As I've said multiple times, if you've got the [MotoGP] opportunity, if it comes knocking, you can't turn it away. Because that train only comes once or twice, some people don't even get it. If you do have the chance, you've got to take it.
"I think Darryn – it's completely different to what I did, because when I stepped up, I stepped onto the Open class Honda and had to build my way up like that.
"Whereas nowadays you can come in and, to be honest, you're getting on a pretty decent machine straight up, which is half the battle.
"So I think all power to him if it's going to happen. As I said, someone's stealing my thunder, but at least it'll take the pressure off me."
