Jack Miller has been denied the chance to race in MotoGP in front of his home Australian fans for the last two seasons, due to Covid restrictions forcing the cancellation of the Phillip Island round.
But he will make a surprise guest appearance in the final round of the Australian Superbike championship, at The Bend Motorsport Park next weekend, riding for the Desmosport Ducati team.
“I came up with the idea because Troy Herfoss was injured and then Hooky [Josh Hook] was going to ride it and I was like ‘what date is it?’ And sort of got the thought in my head that I might be able to make it home for that,” Miller said during the recent Jerez MotoGP test.
“Then I had to push all the powers that be to let me go and do it, and hang out with the boys. Managed to wrangle it all together. I think it’s the most organized I’ve ever been, in terms of organizing something myself! We’ll wait and see until we actually get there and get underway…
“I’m really excited just to catch up with everyone and also to see The Bend as a brand-new track in Australia, I’ve never been there. And also to try the V4R for the first time, because I’ve never rid one of those either.”
Those Miller will be competing against include Ducati title leader Wayne Maxwell, plus Oli Bayiss (son of Troy) and former grand prix starters Bryan Staring, Mike Jones and Arthur Sissis.
Miller took his first dry MotoGP wins this season on the way to a best-yet fourth overall in the world championship, during his debut campaign for the factory Ducati team.
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The 26-year-old will be one of two Australians competing in the premier-class next season with the arrival of reigning Moto2 champion Remy Gardner.
Gardner is spending the off-season in Spain, where he’ll be “in my workshop, working on my cars” until January’s Sepang test.