Marco Bezzecchi
Jack Miller qualified near the back of the MotoGP grid for the San Marino Grand Prix on Saturday. But his day could easily have been a lot worse.
Miller will start from 21st place, his lowest qualifying position of the season. His run without a Q2 appearance has now extended to four races.
He’s only ahead of two riders – Augusto Fernandez, who’s wildcarding with Yamaha’s V4 engine, and Somkiat Chantra, the LCR rookie who’s set to lose his seat at the end of the year.
Miller’s morning was disrupted by an off during the final practice session. And TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson says the incident could easily have ruled him out of qualifying.
Neil Hodgson applauds Jack Miller for avoiding San Marino Grand Prix ‘hospital’ trip
Miller lost control of his M1 on the approach to the high-speed turn 12. But he stayed on the saddle rather than falling.
That meant he entered the gravel trap at over 100mph, in Hodgson’s estimations, and was hurtling towards the barrier. But he showcased supreme off-road skill and composure to ensure the impact was relatively minor.
Miller turned at the last moment so he didn’t hit the barrier head on. He was able to get up immediately without major damage to his bike.
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With 192 race starts, the Australian is the second-most experienced rider on the grid behind Marc Marquez, and that showed in this incident.
“What a horrible experience,” Hodgson remarked. “He’s done well there. Honestly, one minute you’re fully in control and the next minute you’re heading towards the barrier at high speed.
“Jack’s one of, if not the best, off-road rider, and he dealt with that situation really well. If you pause, hesitate or panic, before you know it, you’ve gone into the barrier at a right angle and you’re on your way to hospital. He couldn’t have dealt with that situation any better.”
Is Jack Miller enduring a post-contract slump at Pramac?
Miller signed a new contract at Pramac at the start of the month, confirming that he will be Toprak Razgatlioglu’s teammate next year.
Gino Borsoi says the championship standings were decisive for Miller, who has tripled the points tally of Miguel Oliveira. Still, the Portuguese prevailed in both races last weekend, as well as Misano qualifying.
Oliveira’s 1:30.944 saw him narrowly miss out on a place in Q2, while Alex Rins starts three places ahead of Miller in 18th. Fabio Quartararo was levels above once again as he qualified on the front row.
Miller took a lower salary to stay at Pramac when he had more lucrative offers from the World Superbikes paddock. This reflects his faith in the V4 project, with Yamaha almost certain to introduce the new engine for next year.
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