Pramac Racing announced a contract extension for Jack Miller for the 2019 MotoGP season which will see the Australian ride the latest spec of the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 next year as the number one rider for the Italian outfit.

Miller will pair up with Francesco Bagnaia, who will graduate from Moto2 and will ride the Desmosedici GP18 used in the current MotoGP season. The Australian takes over the lead mantle from Ducati-bound Danilo Petrucci.

He was among the riders shortlisted for the Ducati ride in 2019, but the Italian manufacturer opted for the more experienced campaigner to a one-year contract as Miller had only joined Pramac in 2018 after three years of riding a Honda.

The Australian though has had a solid year on his Ducati debut as he sits ninth in the riders’ championship on 49 points with a best result of fourth in the Argentina Grand Prix – his only second race abode the 2017-spec Desmosedici.