Jack Miller and Honda-backed crew to switch MotoGP teams to Marc VDS squad for 2016

JACK Miller will indeed switch MotoGP teams for the 2016 season, he and his Honda-backed crew moving to the Marc VDS squad.

Miller switches MotoGP teams for 2016

JACK Miller will indeed switch MotoGP teams for the 2016 season, he and his Honda-backed crew moving to the Marc VDS squad.

Miller, renowned crew chief Cristian Gabbarini, and his crew will essentially be placed at the squad by Honda, expanding Marc VDS to a two-rider squad alongside 2014 Moto2 world champion Tito Rabat.

“It’s very exciting news for me,” Miller said. “I’m looking forward to starting my next chapter in MotoGP with them.

“It looks awesome, the package those guys have put together this year has been really fantastic for their first year in the world championship.

“I’m fortunate enough to have all of (my crew) come with me. It looks good, I’m really looking forward to it, that’s for sure.

The move completes something of a full circle for the 20-year-old Australian, who was originally expected to move up to Moto2 with the team this year before stepping up to MotoGP instead with the Lucio Cecchinello Racing squad.

Sponsorship woes for the Italian squad, which saw their title sponsorship collapse in the middle of the season, means it will trim back to a single bike for Cal Crutchlow next year.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody, including Lucio, from LCR Honda,” Miller added.

Jack Miller rides during a free practice session ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend.

“They put together a good squad for me this year. It’s a real shame that we had to cut it short, but I thank them for all the support they gave me.”

Superficially it appears to be an odd situation - Miller joining to a team he fought so strongly to avoid joining this time last year.

Or, as eponymous team owner Marc van der Straten puts it: ““We are happy to welcome Jack to the Marc VDS family, even if he is 12 months late arriving!”

But it’s a marriage of convenience with both parties uniting towards a common goal: realising Miller’s untapped ability aboard a MotoGP bike.

“We wanted Jack in 2013 because we could see he had the talent to succeed and that hasn’t changed,” Michael Bartholemy, Marc VDS team principal, said.

“This was always going to be a difficult transition season for him, having jumped straight onto the MotoGP bike from Moto3, but he’s done a solid job so far.

“Next year Jack will benefit from having the Marc VDS Racing Team behind him and, together with a competitive bike, I’m confident that this is exactly what he needs to realise his full potential.”

Originally published as Jack Miller and Honda-backed crew to switch MotoGP teams to Marc VDS squad for 2016