Jack Miller experienced a turbulent day at the Sachsenring German MotoGP Sprint, yet managed to achieve his season-best finish in the wet conditions. His performance in the Jack Miller Sachsenring MotoGP Sprint was marked by a dramatic qualifying session and a determined race effort.
The problems began during qualifying when the Pramac Yamaha rider suffered a highside crash at the same corner where Maverick Vinales had earlier dislocated his shoulder. Miller described the incident:
I was trying to get the right-hand side of the tyre working, but coming out of Turn 3, as I changed direction and loaded the left side… The bike just launched me to the moon.
Fortunately, he escaped injury and was able to continue competing.
Adapting Quickly with a Spare Bike Setup
After the crash, Miller rushed back to the pits to switch to his spare motorcycle, despite it being set up for dry conditions rather than the wet track. He explained,
I sprinted back to the box and jumped on the other bike, which was a bit of a compromise, basically a dry setup with soft springs, the wrong linkage and wheelbase,
adding,
It was super slippery, but I managed to get a few laps in and secure a spot on the third row.
This effort secured him ninth on the starting grid for the sprint race.
Race Interrupted by Early Setbacks but Strong Recovery
The sprint race started with additional challenges as Miller hit a tear-off strip left on the ground right after the race began. He lost traction and acceleration, dropping several positions early on. Miller said,
I got off the line pretty well, but then I hit a tear-off on the ground,
and continued,
The bike slid, I lost all the acceleration and dropped a few positions. So in the early laps, I had to push hard to make up ground.
Despite this, by the end of the opening lap, Miller had returned to ninth place. He then began overtaking several riders, including Bagnaia, Zarco, Binder, and Alex Márquez, and worked towards closing the gap to riders Diggia and Acosta. However, he could only match their pace without overtaking them.
Careful Tire Management Secures Fifth Place Finish
As the race progressed, Miller focused on preserving his tires rather than taking risky pushes to improve his position further.
In the end, I just focused on nursing the tyre to avoid overheating and brought it home in fifth – which is a solid result.
His fifth-place finish matched his best result of the season, previously achieved at COTA.
Meanwhile, other notable performances included Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo finishing third in the sprint, while Miller’s teammate Miguel Oliveira came in eleventh and Alex Rins finished fifteenth.
Implications for the Season and Future Prospects
Miller’s ability to recover from a challenging qualifying crash, adapt to a compromised bike setup, and still secure a top-five finish highlights his resilience and skill under difficult conditions. This performance at Sachsenring adds momentum to his season and raises expectations for upcoming races, where tire management and adaptability may become key factors in his continued success.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where is Jack Miller in 2025?
A. The feeling of being home is refreshing. That’s why Miller decided to rejoin Paolo Campinoti’s team in 2025. He became one of two riders representing Prima Pramac Yamaha in the MotoGP, riding as a Yamaha factory rider.
Q. Where will Jack Miller go in 2025?
A. Jack Miller will be part of the factory Yamaha Racing Team for the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours. Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is happy to share its first update about the team for this event.
