Tech 3 boss: Jack Miller always destined for HRC move

Yamaha never got a sniff of beating Honda to Jack Miller’s signature after it was made clear he favoured a HRC switch for 2015.

The teenage Aussie will be fast tracked directly from Moto3 into MotoGP next season after clinching a deal to ride a production RC213V-RS in Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR Honda squad.

Miller emerged as hot property in 2014 after claiming six victories and he missed out on winning the title by just two-points after a tense and dramatic final round title decider against Alex Marquez.

One of Miller’s biggest fans is Monster Yamaha Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal, who was closely linked to a swoop for the 19-year-old Aussie earlier this year. Miller featured prominently on a shortlist of talent for a YZR-M1 ride in the French-based Tech 3 squad before it was decided to retain Bradley Smith for one more season.

And Poncharal told MCN: “I really like Jack. I like him for his personality, his celebrations and his riding and we talked with him and his management. But it was clear from day one that there was HRC interest and he wasn’t talking to an independent team but talking directly to HRC.

“From Assen it was very clear that they had some very strong connection with Honda and it was almost game over from that moment. So from very early on we understood it was not going to be possible.”