Jack Miller is preparing to swap MotoGP for Australian Superbikes this weekend as he joins DesmoSport Ducati at The Bend.

The Australian flew home fresh from the Jerez test, for the first time since January and preparation for the 2021 MotoGP season started, but instead of putting his feet up he’s looking forward to one more race.

Miller will wildcard on the Panigale V4R, a machine he has yet to experience, for the finale of the 2021 Mi-Bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship at the 4.9 km circuit in South Australia, opened in 2018.

“I came up with the idea because Troy was injured - Herfoss - and then Hooky [Josh Hook] was going to ride it,” Miller explained. “I was like ‘what date is that?’ Got the dates working in my head and thought, ‘you know, I might be able to make it home for that!’ Then I had to push all the powers of be to let me go and do it, and just hang out with the boys.

“Managed to wrangle it all together. I think it’s probably the most organised I’ve ever been in terms of organising something myself. We’ll wait and see until we actually get there and get underway but I’m really excited to catch up with everyone and also to see The Bend. It’s a brand new track in Australia. I have never been there and also to try the V4R for the first time, because I’ve never ridden one of them either.”

Mike Jones will be absent from the DesmoSport Ducati Team due to South Australia’s restrictions preventing non-vaccinated travellers, with Oli Bayliss running solo alongside the MotoGP star in his final outing at home before the move to WorldSSP in 2022.

“I’ve had some time off the bike over the last few weeks after finishing school, so I’m looking forward to getting back into it and going racing again, especially at The Bend, it’s such a cool track,” Bayliss said ahead of the final round.

“I love the Panigale V4 R, I even rode it to my formal a few weeks ago, so to have my last ride on it at The Bend before moving to the Panigale V2 is going to be great and I’m confident that I can give Ben, Dad, Byron, Bryan and everyone at DesmoSport a strong finish to the year.

“We’ve got Jack in the truck and pit box with us over the weekend too. It’s pretty awesome to be able to share the track and race a current MotoGP factory-level rider, it’s great for the series and it’s great for racing fans to have an opportunity to see Jack ride here again, and hopefully also show even more people just how good the racing is in the ASBK.”