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Covid glitch for Ducati MotoGP team

Aussie Jack Miller tests positive

Australian Jack Miller has tested positive for Covid, pushing back the launch of the Ducati Lenovo MotoGP team.

This comes as Ducati has announced a record sale year in 2021 and Ducati Australia has recorded the biggest rise in sales for the company worldwide in 2021 with a 50% increase.

Ducati sold 59,477 motorcycles globally which is a new record for the Italian company, up 24% on 2020 and 12% over 2019.

Further to Ducati’s good news, the company has met the highest quality standards to be awarded the Top Employer Italy certification for the eighth year in a row.

And Ducati is also back in London with a new dealership in the railway arches of Vauxhall.

The only glitch in the Ducati good news is that Miller tested positive to Covid-19 on Wednesday 19 January.

Jack, whose contract with Ducati is under a clouds, will not make it back to Europe in time to take part in the official 2022 team photoshoot session.

The number 43 rider, who is asymptomatic, is in self-isolation in Australia and will do a second PCR test next week.

The 2022 Ducati Lenovo Team Season Launch scheduled for 28 January will be postponed to 7 February 2022.

It comes as Jack and team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, whose contracts run out this year, will be a in a three-way fight for the two seats with impressive rookie Jorge Martin.

Meanwhile, Jack hopes to head to the official MotoGP Shakedown test from 31 January – 2 February at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

He says he is “doing fine”. 

“Since I don’t have any symptoms, at least I can continue with my training,” he says. 

“I miss you all and will see you in Sepang for the test.”