Tardozzi: A matter decided from top management

With Jack Miller’s Thursday revelation there was “some truth” to the rumours linking Jorge Lorenzo to his Pramac Ducati seat for 2020, many in the MotoGP paddock spent the rest of the day in a state of shock.

As well as confirming Lorenzo was keen on a return to the Bologna factory, the Australian also indicated who at Ducati was entertaining the notion. “I think that Pramac love me [and] want to keep me,” said Miller. “Nearly everybody in Ducati wants to keep me. Some people have fond memories.”

When Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi was approached to comment on the matter, his opinion suggested he was one of those in the Bologna factory on Miller’s side.

“Now it’s a matter of numbers,” said Tardozzi when asked why Miller had yet to sign a contract extension. “For the first time we are trying to supply four factory bikes for the first time in our history.

“We have to find a way to stop putting squares in round holes. To me, personally, it’s a matter of having a deal with Pramac on numbers. Then we’ll see. This is why there is a delay in the agreement with Jack.”

Is this the only reason for the hold up? “For Davide Tardozzi, yes,” came his response.

“I can say that if Jorge says that [he wants to come back] it’s because we gave to him a good feeling. But he had a two-year deal with Honda.”

When it was put to the Italian that Lorenzo may be keen to get out of the second year of his current deal with Repsol Honda, Tardozzi’s response indicated this is a matter under discussion between Ducati’s “top management”: CEO Claudio Domenicali, Technical Chief Gigi Dall’Igna and Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti.

“I don’t know. You must ask Gigi, Paolo and Domenicali,” he said. “I think that this kind of matter must be decided from the top management.”

On whether he feels Miller is deserving of a GP20 in the Pramac squad for next season, Tardozzi added, “I think Jack did a good job. I think that slightly he is coming to the level that we ask him to race at. He must be a bit more consistent but he’s growing. That is obvious.

“My feeling is that Jack, by the end of the season, can be really competitive for the podium in several races and almost all the championship next year.”