It’s not easy or even right to draw conclusions just three rounds into the championship, but it is fair to say that we expected a very different season start from the factory Ducati team.

Miller in the red

There’s little to write home about, and the general standings only confirm this. Francesco Bagnaia has scored 12 points, a meagre tally that would be even smaller without his fifth-place finish in Argentina and for a rider who, before the championship got underway, was widely touted as being the overall favourite for the title.

And things aren’t rosy on the other side of the garage either. Team-mate Jack Miller is also struggling, having amassed 15 points to date, almost all of which are thanks to a fourth place at Mandalika.

As for the latest GP round, at Termas de Rio Hondo, the Australian experienced one of his worst races since coming to MotoGP. Having started from the fifth row alongside Pecco due to a penalty, he never got into his rhythm, languishing in the bottom half of the field.

Jack’s admission at the end of the race

“A frustrating race, because I wasn’t able to make even one pass, but unfortunately I didn’t have the right sensations to allow me to attack”, commented the Australian after the Argentina GP. “It was an unusual weekend, we made a change in warm-up that took us in the wrong direction and I really struggled in the race”.

A very disappointing weekend, contrary to that of Jorge Martin, second across the line behind winner Aleix Espargaró. And we don’t mention the Pramac rider randomly, as it’s clear to everyone that if the 2022 season were to continue as it has begun, the Spaniard would have a very good chance of joining the factory team alongside a Bagnaia who has already renewed his contract.

And this is why we need a reaction from a Miller who appears disorientated, a distant relative of the rider we’ve seen, off and on, throughout his time in the top class. Without a turnaround, it’s only inevitable that the rider, who is still young but has been unable to fully exploit his talent, will lose his factory ride.

Translated by Heather Watson

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