Rookie Francesco Bagnaia thinks he has only understood 65% of what it takes to become a MotoGP rider, but that was still good enough to finish second fastest - under the all-time lap record - during this week's official Sepang test.
The completion of Andrea Dovizioso's new Ducati deal means the factory will now turn its attention to filling the remaining free places in its 2019 MotoGP line-up.
Since winning on its MotoGP debut in Qatar, Ducati's GP18 has come under threat from the previous 2017 model in Argentina and Austin. Pramac's Jack Miller was the top Ducati rider in Argentina, when Avintia's Tito Rabat finished right on the rear wheel of factory star Andrea Dovizioso.
Jack Miller has used the ten-day break since COTA to rebuild motion and strength in his arm, following a pre-Austin shoulder injury. The Pramac Ducati rider fell from a mountain bike the Friday before the American round, leaving him with bone and muscle damage.
Jack Miller came out the wrong side of a 'good clean battle' with former team-mate Tito Rabat over eighth place on the final lap of Sunday's Austin MotoGP.
How bad were the track conditions at COTA on day one of the Americas MotoGP? This is what the Pramac Ducati rider had to say following the diamond grinding to try and reduce the bumps ahead of this year's race.
At just 23-years-old, Jack Miller is one of the youngest riders on the MotoGP grid - and would freely admit he's not always the most mature. But on Thursday in Austin it was the Pramac Ducati rider who called for calm between riders, fans and media after the Argentina controversy.
Pramac has announced a sponsorship deal with both Mick Doohan and son Jack for the 2018 season. The agreement will see Pramac support Jack during this year's British F4 Championship and selected German and Italian F4 races.
While team-mate Jack Miller slid his way to a sensational pole position on last year's Ducati, GP18 rider Danilo Petrucci was left to look on from the pits. "I'm happy for Jack, who took a big risk [with slicks] but it paid off," he said.
Jack Miller set a faster Qatar race lap than Pramac Ducati team-mate Danilo Petrucci, on the latest GP18, but the Australian finished five places lower, in tenth, after over-stressing his front tyre.
Danilo Petrucci knows he will be leaving the Pramac team at the end of the 2018 MotoGP season , but that doesn't automatically mean he is out of Ducati.