Jack Miller Secures Top KTM and Top Five Finish in Thrilling Austrian Sprint

Jack Miller takes a circuitous route to become the leading KTM, securing a top five spot

In the Austrian Sprint, Jack Miller claims the position of the foremost KTM rider, achieving his highest placement since the race in Portimao with a fifth-place finish.

Jack Miller made his way back into the top five for the first time since the second round in Portimao, finishing as the highest-placed KTM rider in the Austrian MotoGP Sprint.

The Australian had a solid start to Saturday, taking the lead in the first qualifying round before securing the fifth spot on the grid during the second qualifying pole position battle.

Despite an initial setback, Miller managed to hold onto his spot for the majority of the Sprint, momentarily climbing to fourth place following Marc Marquez's crash, only to drop a position to Enea Bastianini, the victor at Silverstone, shortly after.

"Being overtaken by Enea with two laps remaining was somewhat disappointing, yet I attempted to keep up and possibly mount a counterattack, although it ultimately didn't happen,” Miller explained, despite managing to stay ahead of both Pramac Ducati's Franco Morbidelli and his KTM colleague Brad Binder.

"I committed several errors around Turn 3. My start wasn't optimal. I lost control at the beginning, which forced me to compensate and heavily rely on the clutch, putting it through a lot of stress."

"I'm unsure whether we've warped a disc or something similar, but particularly around Turn 3, when downshifting to 1st gear, the vehicle began to slightly hop and managing the engine braking became challenging as it wasn't functioning properly."

During a sequence of three consecutive laps, I consistently missed the optimal turning point at the corner, which I recognized as a significant setback, particularly while competing against Enea who was clocking in impressive lap times towards the latter part of the race.

"Thrilled to return to the top five, a position I haven't held since Portimao."

"I'm in high spirits this weekend. This morning required us to take a more circuitous route with the first and second qualifying sessions, yet I managed to clock in respectable times in each. Following that, I achieved a solid outcome in the Sprint, so here's hoping it positions us well for the race tomorrow."

"I'm committed to giving it my best once more, and I'm optimistic that our speed will suffice. I'm aiming for a stronger start, given that it's going to be an extended race."

Binder disclosed that switching the front forks significantly improved his performance.

"The South African mentioned, "I finished in seventh place, yet I managed to reach the group ahead and felt more positive. There's definitely more we can enhance, and the key for tomorrow will be in how we handle the tyre. I believe I'm quite skilled in that area, so with some luck, we'll be able to deliver a solid performance in the race."

Wildcard entry Espargaro, aboard a significantly altered prototype RC16, lamented a crash in Q2, believing a second-row start was achievable, yet was satisfied with securing a solid top ten position, as only Marc Marquez had a fall surpassing him.

"I believe we could have aimed for the second row, but sometimes things don't pan out as planned until you reach the finish line!"

"The Sprint was decent, but obviously, the actual conditions varied significantly from the test conditions! Assessing the braking, drafting, and even the physical aspects took me a while to readjust to."

"We achieved impressive speeds during the trial, although I had to keep an eye on the front tyre's temperature. Regardless, we've gathered valuable insights for the upcoming day and beyond."

"Being in the top ten was fulfilling. I'm content with the outcome, though naturally, we always aspire for even better."

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