Marco Bezzecchi
Jack Miller finished an outstanding P5 for Pramac at the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday. Miller remains the lead Yamaha rider in the championship after gaining four spots during a chaotic race.
He jumped up the order early on, climbing to P5 on lap two. VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli then re-passed Miller, but he was still well-placed.
The M1 didn’t necessarily have the pace of his fellow front-runners, with 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo only able to finish 10th. But Miller crucially kept the motorcycle on track in tricky conditions.
He gained a spot when Marc Marquez crashed, and his battle with Brad Binder was ended by terminal technical issues on the KTM. Miller then came under pressure from Fermin Aldeguer, but the Gresini rookie pushed too hard and fell.
P5 is not only the best result for any Yamaha rider this season, but the best since the 2023 Malaysian GP. It’s a sign of the Japanese manufacturer’s progress, as well as Miller’s developing resurgence.
Jack Doohan applauds Pramac star Jack Miller on social media
Miller celebrated his result on Instagram after the race, crediting his strong start as ‘half the battle’. He was relieved to experience ‘no dramas’ on a greasy circuit.
Pramac won the world championship with Jorge Martin last year, while Yamaha are the second-most successful manufacturer on the grid after Honda, so both have loftier long-term ambitions than fifth. But this was a new benchmark in their recovery.
Miller was congratulated by a couple of fellow Aussie racers in the comments. Supercar driver Will Davison told him performance was ‘so good’ and said he was ‘on fire’ at the Circuit of the Americas.
Meanwhile, Alpine F1 star Jack Doohan wrote ‘go on thriller’. Doohan is, of course, the son of motorcycle legend Mick, who won five premier-class titles.
Jack Miller knew he’d shine at Americas Grand Prix and pre-race expression proves it
MotoGP fans praised Miller for giving Quartararo a push after his stablemate crashed on the sighting lap. The Frenchman also thanked him on social media.
Miller has come to be regarded as a specialist in changeable conditions, and he strengthened that reputation here.
TNT Sports Sylvain Guintoli noticed that Miller ‘smiled’ when he came out of the Pramac garage to look at the conditions. This was a rider who knew he was on for a big result.
Surprisingly, the 30-year-old hasn’t logged back-to-back top-five finishes since 2022, when he won the Japanese GP and finished second in Thailand. That should be the lofty target when he arrives in Qatar next week.
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