Words: Russell Colvin

Image: Russell Colvin.

Fifteen-time world champion Giacomo Agostini believes Jack Miller’s move from Honda to Pramac Racing is a move that could come as a significant boost for the Australian.

On arriving in Australia this week for the 25th Island Classic at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Agostini is confident the transition to Ducati will be a positive this season.

“I believe Jack will go quite well this year on the Ducati,” Agostini told CycleOnline.com.au in Melbourne. “Why he changed from Honda to Ducati, well maybe he might have had a good offer Pramac Ducati.

“Secondly I think he sees Ducati is very fast and a motorcycle that he might be able to win more races on. On top of everything else, maybe Ducati will be able to provide more assistant and special parts, which might have been the deciding factor for Miller’s switch to Pramac Ducati.”

Agostini, 75, admitted that when Miller made the massive leap from Moto3 to MotoGP in 2015 that it was not the best move to have done in his opinion.

“In my opinion, it was not the best move,” he stated. “I didn’t agree with it, because like when you go to school, you go first, second, third grade and so on. Not from first to third grade. This is like what Jack did – he went from Moto3 then straight to MotoGP.

“During the past few years, he has had an up and down seasons, but that is just because he has been learning the craft of a MotoGP bike, as a Moto3 bike is completely different to a MotoGP machine. However, now I see Jack getting better and better and I think he will only get stronger from here on.”

This weekend at the Island Classic, ‘Ago’ will be riding one of his championship-winning MV Agusta 350cc race bikes in parade laps across the weekend: “The passion from an event like the Island Classic is huge. There’s next to no technology on the bikes, a lot were made by hand and riders just ride them – sometimes that isn’t very easy!”

Tickets for the 25th International Island Classic are now on sale at www.islandclassic.com.au.