Jack Miller has received a timely vote of confidence from Ducati MotoGP boss Gigi Dall’Igna, being described as a ‘leader’ who can make the step he needs to start the 2022 MotoGP World Championship as a title contender.
The Australian endured a positive but underwhelming first season as a full factory Ducati rider in 2021, Miller scoring two wins early in the season before being comfortably out-performed by less experienced team-mate Pecco Bagnaia.
While Bagnaia has been the subject of immense praise from Ducati bosses for his four wins and five pole positions in only his third season of MotoGP, Miller - who made his debut back in 2015 - finds himself heading into 2022 under pressure to perform.
Indeed, following the eye-catching rookie efforts of Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini in 2021 on the satellite Pramac and Avintia Ducatis, it’s likely Miller will need a strong start to the year to guarantee him a stay of execution within the Ducati Corse set-up.
Nevertheless, Dall’Igna is confident Miller has the skill to take the extra step and match Bagnaia in a year that is expected to see Ducati start as title favourites following its rapid end to the 2021 season.
"No, I don't think he felt the pressure," Dall’Igna told Speedweek. “I think he can take the step he needs so that he can really fight for the title. He's very strong in terms of driving. It's true that he lacks consistency over a full season, but sometimes it's the small details that don't give him the chance to show his true potential.
“Jack is [also] a leader,” Dall’Igna said having used the same word to describe Bagnaia. “He's very good at motivating the people who work with him. For me, leadership means that a driver manages to get everyone to work in the same direction in order to achieve the goal set."
