Jack Miller haꦗs played down any lasting friction with Ducati following his lengthy contract saga, as he revea🌞ls how close he came to signing for Red Bull KTM.

Pramac Ducati confirmed Miller would stay at the team for 2020, on factory GP20 machinery, after delays on his🔯 deal triggered by surprise links to former Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo.

But after key talks betwee🎃n Ducati bosses, Miller was duly retained with his contract extension conf💃irmed the week after the Austrian MotoGP.

The Australian rider has shrugged off the speculation around his 2020 deal and accepts “it is just business” in MotoGP as he p𒆙ersonally thanked Pramac team bosses Paolo Campinoti and Francesco Guidotti for their roles in confirming his contract.

“Do I look more relaxed? Maybe a little, maybe less pissed off let’s say that. I’😼m happy,” Miller said. “First of all I want to start by saying I cannot thank Paolo Campinoti for everything he has done especially when it came to pushing for me.

“He really had my back through the whole thing ꦰso for sure he is the biggest guy I need to thank, between him and Francesco Guidotti, they did a great job and really had my back through the whole situation.

“It is business🍬 and they are trying🌠 to win races which I completely understand so I just hope that I can prove that I am to do so.

“I am more of a sweep it under the rug kind of guy. Push the shit under the ꦐrug and leave it there. In this paddock if you𝔍 get butt hurt from everything that goes on like that you are not going to be here very long. For me, it is business.”

In a twist to Miller’s future during the A𒐪ustrian round, reports emerged that Red Bull KTM approached the Australian following Johann Zarco’s push to split from the manufacturer just one seaosn into his two-year deal.

Miller says he gave serious consideration to the offer with his Ducati future s♓till up in the air, while he also had fond memories with the Austrian brand during his breakthrough Moto3 campaign in 2014 with Red Bull KTM Ajo when he finished runner-up in the championship before making the jump to MotoGP.

ꦺ“I had to think about it, KTM are a great manufacturer and I’ve had a lot of success✨ with them in the past and I have a great relationship with Mr Pierer and Pit Beirer,” he explained. “I have a really good relationship with them and it was kind of tough to turn it down in that way.

“But for me to take a risk at this point in my career when things just start to get on tra🉐ck, getting some podiums and getting to where I’d like to be, it seems like in my career I have always done that.

“I just s💃tart to go well and then challenge myself immediately again, I throw myself back under the bus. I would lik♌e to spend some time not under the bus and inside a seat.”