Jack Miller delivered an impressive display of speed at the Spanish MotoGP despite a late practice crash that sent him to Q1. During a thrilling final time attack on Friday, Miller was set for direct Q2 access until a Turn 7 mishap dashed his hopes. Nevertheless, the Pramac Yamaha rider remains optimistic, asserting, “the pace is there,” and feeling confident in his performance.
The day began positively for Miller, who secured sixth place in FP1. “The feeling on the bike was good right from the morning,” he shared. However, his fortunes took a turn when he encountered a yellow flag during his first lap with new tires while following Marc. The disrupted attempt, paradoxically, resulted in his fastest lap of the session.
On his subsequent attempt, Miller shadowed Francesco Bagnaia, a former Ducati teammate. He narrowly avoided a front-end tuck at Turn 1, only to overload the front again in pursuit of the red machine. “I was following Pecco and tucked the front at Turn 1, saved it, but lost some time. I had to push hard through the next two corners,” Miller explained.
Despite feeling strong, the Australian rider admitted, “I came into Turn 7 a bit hot, didn’t get much stopping from the rear, forced the front a little, and the bike just gave up – down I went.” Miller remains hopeful, attributing the crash to insufficient support from the engine braking and expressing confidence in addressing the issue.
Miller’s best lap was just 0.235 seconds shy of the Q2 cutoff, underscoring his competitive edge. Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi expressed mixed feelings, noting the disappointment from the crash but emphasizing, “His pace, both over one lap and in race trim, is very encouraging.” Meanwhile, Monster Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo showcased the potential of the M1 at Jerez, leading the session and finishing fifth.
Elsewhere, Miller’s teammate, Augusto Fernandez, concluded the day in 20th position, struggling with setup adjustments. Fernandez commented, “The front end feels great – you can see that from Fabio’s pace – and we’re narrowing the gap.” He acknowledged the challenges posed by insufficient rear-end support but remained focused on improvements.
As the team prepares for the Sprint and Sunday race, anticipation builds around how adjustments and strategies will play out. Miller’s determination to refine the bike’s performance indicates potential for impactful results. The MotoGP circuit continues to captivate with its blend of excitement and precision, and all eyes are on Jack Miller as he gears up for the next round.
