Jack Miller confirms talks took place between himself and Repsol Honda about a 2019 MotoGP deal, but says no negotiations were ever had, contrary to rumours that a deal had been reached during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
Miller was a Honda rider for the first three years of his MotoGP career, first at LCR, and then Marc VDS, before agreeing a deal directly with Ducati to join Pramac for this season.
With Dani Pedrosa announcing his exit from Honda last month, rumours during the Mugello weekend emerged that Honda had offered Miller a deal to return to the marque to partner Marc Marquez, before eventually signing outgoing Ducati man Jorge Lorenzo.
Miller – who will remain with Pramac while teammate Danilo Petrucci moves to the works Bologna effort – admits talks “definitely” took place, but nothing ever advanced past that stage.
In his post-Dutch TT blog on redbull.com, he said: “The Repsol Honda stuff? You might have read that I'd signed to go there around Mugello time, and don't worry, I read that too.
“So let's clear that up: there was talk, definitely, but no contract negotiations. It's a big step from talking about something to negotiating to signing.
“So I don't know who said what to who, or whatever to turn that into a stor that I'd definitely be racing there next year.
“Talking, it's always good to know what your options could have been over there. Something signed? That's a lot different.”
Speaking about his Dutch TT – in which he finished 11th on the road but was promoted to 10th following a corner-cutting penalty for Suzuki's Andrea Iannone – Miller admits he “lacked a little bit of edge grip” for the entire 26 laps, and didn't feel he had anything more to give to close down the massive lead group ahead.
“I was happy to finish, especially with the way the rear tyre was dying on me at the end, but you always want more.
“13 seconds behind [race winner] Marc [Marquez] at the front isn't a lot, and 11 seconds off Alex Rins who was second is about four tenths of a second a lap.
“But I didn't think there was much more for me on Sunday, and looking back at the race it was hard to see where I could have gained much more time.
“I lacked a little bit of edge grip with the tyre for the whole race compared to the guys in front of me, and I just couldn't hand with them at the pace they were running.
“Annoying a bit, but that's the facts. I've finished six races this year and all of them in the top 10, so it was good to keep that run going.”
