The winter break passed quickly for Jack Miller, between one commitment and another: “Just enough time to spend the Christmas holidays at home in Australia - the ‘Jackass’ recounts - Because between the things to do with the team in Italy and in Europe and training along with Schrotter in California, the break flew by for me. No problem, I trained hard doing fitness, running, bicycling and motocross. I feel really fit.”

What type of training do you like to do?

“Besides the mountain bike, which I use often, I like to do fitness training, really working out my legs. I want to keep my legs fit. My arms are not at 100% optimum condition right now, but they will be by Thailand. In the meantime, I’ll do a lot of aerobic training.”

The Ducati era began at the end of last year in the Valencia and Jerez tests for Miller. A comparison is inevitable with the Belgian team’s Honda which he even rode to a race victory in 2016 at Assen.

“I have worked with various teams. On Marc VDS I was able to ride the same bike for two years in a row. With Pramac, we’ll have to get to know one another. The first two tests in Europe went well and we were able to size one another up. The Desmosedici GP is competitive – the best bike I’ve ridden. I need to adjust my style because it is different from the Honda. It is more stable and also longer, but physically it is less demanding. Coming out of corners, the Ducati wheelies less than the Honda and there are fewer things I have to think about in the saddle.”

Now you’ll test the definitive bike…

“Yes. In Valencia and Jerez I had the 2016 GP. Here in Malaysia I’ll ride the 2017, which implements new technical solutions introduced in Barcelona last year. We’ll see; I feel confident both thinking about the test and the entire season. We will work hard to be consistent and fast from the first to last race. I want to arrive in Qatar showing everyone how fast we are.”