Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti has outlined the one area he believes Australian Jack Miller must improve on if he's to put a title challenge together in 2022. Speaking at the final round in Valencia, the Italian stated that Miller's riding style often results in higher tyre wear than others on the grid - something they'll be looking to work on ahead of the new season starting.
Miller, who recently tested positive for Covid-19 causing the postponement of the Bologna brand's 2022 launch, enjoyed his best MotoGP™ season yet in 2021, with two victories and a further three podiums helping him to fourth in the World Championship.
But, despite being described as "one of the fastest riders" in the premier class by his boss, there is a stand-out area Ducati are looking to aide the 27-year-old with.
"His talent is there," started Ciabatti. "Nobody has any doubts about Jack's talent. "He's probably one of the fastest riders. In certain conditions, he's also probably the best or one of the best - when it's wet or partly wet. But sometimes his riding style is not helping him to save the tyre for the second part of the race and I think this is one of the areas where we need to help him to improve."
Much like most of the grid, Miller is into the final year of his factory Ducati deal. Therefore, 2022 is a huge year for the Australian and his MotoGP™ future, with both Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini breathing down his neck following remarkable rookie campaigns. Can the Thriller find the final piece to the puzzle and put together a strong title challenge?