Arriving on the Red Bull Ring track, Jack Miller had the sky fall on his head when he learned that he was perhaps the last of his team not to know that a discussion had started with a Jorge Lorenzo who was eyeing his place at Pramac. Touched, the Australian did not sink and he delivered a great performance which, unfortunately, ended in a mess. And now ?
It’s a Jack Miller to the sullen face who walked back to his Pramac Ducati stand well before the end of the Austrian Grand Prix. The sign of abandonment which leaves him with a taste all the more bitter since, for him, the podium was at the end of the road in this Austrian Grand Prix: “ I could have pushed Quartararo off the podium » comments the Australian. “ Too bad, because Fabio didn't have the best pace. But for some reason he slowed down more than usual when I got closer to him. I once almost hit his ass at turn 4, costing me half a second, which I had to make up for ».
And that’s where it all came together… “ When I came out of turn 8, a small mistake happened to me: I missed the braking point by 2 meters. I was then two meters from the ideal line outside. I ended up on the dirty surface and the front wheel slipped. I know exactly what I did wrong. Otherwise I had everything under control. I took care of the rear tire very carefully. Especially in turns 4, 5 and 8. I just didn't let the rear wheel spin. The tires felt good, I could have held on until the end. Too bad, we had a fantastic chance to get on the podium. But that did not work. The team gave me an incredible bike again, thank you ».
While the battle raged at the front, @jackmilleraus unfortunately crashed out of P4! 💢
The Australian is unhurt 👌🏼#AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/nvQPzya06c
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) August 11
Miller really had an exciting start. “ It started at turn 1, I had to pass two start lines… Then I saw how Marc wanted to block Dovi's attack at turn 3, but I noticed that they were being carried further and further . So I dove inside, Marc then tried to slam the door on me. But I defended my land! Rins was a bit aggressive at the start, for example on lap 6. I heard the Suzuki barking in the middle of the curve. I let it pass. Then I ironed it ».
Miller keep on going : " I felt very good. I found my rhythm. Marc wanted to overtake me on the outside, but I braked at my normal braking point and fought for a while. His strength is that he often takes the lead in the first laps. That's why I did everything to stop him in the first laps. Then I got closer to Fabio on lap 4. It was that half a second that I lost. In a way, the Yamaha is more stable when braking than our bike, with us the rear wheel straightens too often. But like I said: I screwed up. I ruined the podium. I should have released the brake and widened onto the green carpet... It would have cost me a second. I could have made up for it. Damage ».
We are waiting to be determined on the fate of Jack Miller with a view to 2020 before the next deadline at Silverstone in two weeks. Confirmation at Pramac seems to be in order, but KTM proposed…
MotoGP Austria Red Bull Ring J3: standings
