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KTM-bound Ducati MotoGP rider Jack Miller says he would promote Enea Bastianini to the seat he will make vacant for 2023, if it were up to him.
Ducati is expected to announce at the next round at Misano whether Bastianini or Jorge Martin will line up alongside Francesco Bagnaia next year – meaning this weekend’s Red Bull Ring outing is theoretically the final chance for either to make their case.
And while Martin is a past Red Bull Ring winner and has been running at the sharp end this weekend so far, Gresini rider Bastianini has made the bigger impression heading into Sunday.
The Italian, who despite only being a MotoGP sophomore is already recognised as one of the grid’s main race day specialists, claimed his first pole position in any grand prix class since he was a Moto3 rider in 2018 (pictured below).
Martin, for his part, was fourth, 0.186s off the pace – with the pair split by none other than Bagnaia and Miller.
Asked during the post-qualifying top three press conference – in which Bastianini was present and Martin wasn’t – who he would pick as his replacement, Miller said: “I think Enea’s done a fantastic job. Also last year, on the old [Avintia-run GP19] machine.
“He’s come in as the underdog, been on the podium already on a two-year old [Avintia-run] machine – he’s on a one-year-old machine now, and he’s won three grands prix this year. Pole position here.
“Yeah, he’s been up and down, but he’s in his second season so it’s completely normal. As both of them have.
“But… if I’m making the decision right now, my decision goes with him.”
Miller has also previously alluded to the fact that Bastianini was a no-brainer for Ducati in that his arrival would create a powerhouse all-Italian line-up for the Bologna brand.
When asked by MotoGP.com whether his pole was important for helping determine his 2023 plans, Bastianini said: “Eh… probably… I don’t know this!”
Whoever of the pair misses out on the works Ducati ride will land at Pramac – where Martin currently rides – with a works deal and a works-spec bike.
Bastianini currently has 118 points to Martin’s 81, but the Spaniard has long been keen to emphasise that his rival has been able to take profit from a more complete GP21 bike this year, while Martin has been getting his head around a rawer, still-developing GP22.
Martin has also had to undergo right hand surgery this year, forced by knock-on effects from his brutal Portimao crash last year.
At Silverstone, Martin spent most of the British GP well ahead of Bastianini but was reeled in and passed late on – despite Bastianini running with missing winglets, lost in an early collision with none other than Martin.
Asked by The Race on Thursday about whether he viewed the Red Bull Ring as an opportunity to get one his Ducati 2023 seat rival after being bested at Silverstone, he said: ” I mean, we finished Silverstone in one tenth [apart]. I don’t think that changed a lot to them [Ducati]. So, just focus on my job and try to be in front for sure.”
He also said: “I mean, my target is to be on the podium or winning. I’m just focused on that. And if I do that, for sure we’ll be in a good place- I mean, we will be anyway in a good place next year, but I think it will help Ducati to decide. But I don’t know, I am not thinking about this.”
In any case, the pair could be in for a rematch on Sunday.
Martin feels his pace is “one of the strongest ones”, while Bastianini is also convinced of having the speed to remain out front, having also topped the race pace simulations in FP4.
