Jack Miller’s Stellar Sprint: Top KTM Rider Clinches Fifth in Austrian MotoGP

Jack Miller Secures Top KTM Spot with Fifth Place Finish

In the Austrian Sprint, Jack Miller achieved a fifth-place finish, marking his best performance since Portimao and earning him the highest position among KTM riders.

Jack Miller broke back into the top five for the first time since the second round in Portimao, finishing as the top KTM rider in the Austrian MotoGP Sprint.

The Australian started Saturday on a high note by topping the timesheets in Qualifying 1 and secured the fifth spot on the grid during the Q2 pole position battle.

Although Miller had a rough beginning, he managed to maintain his position for the majority of the Sprint. He temporarily moved up to fourth place when Marc Marquez had an accident but then dropped a spot to Silverstone victor Enea Bastianini.

"Enea overtaking me with two laps remaining was somewhat disappointing, but I attempted to stay close and possibly make a move, though it didn't happen," Miller stated. Despite this, he managed to fend off Pramac Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli and his KTM teammate Brad Binder.

"I messed up several times at Turn 3. My start wasn't great. I spun right from the beginning and had to struggle to regain control, repeatedly using the clutch. It was a tough experience."

"I'm not sure if it was the clutch or something else, but particularly at Turn 3 when I was shifting down into 1st gear, the car started to hop a bit, and I couldn't control the engine braking as expected."

"I missed the corner's apex three times consecutively, which I knew was a significant mistake, especially since Enea was posting good lap times near the end."

"But it's great to return to the top five. The last time was in Portimao."

"I'm in high spirits this weekend. We had to take a longer route this morning with Q1 and Q2, but I managed to achieve a respectable time in both sessions. Additionally, I got a good result in the Sprint, so hopefully, that will position us well for tomorrow's race."

"I will put in maximum effort once more and I am optimistic that our speed will suffice. I am looking forward to a stronger beginning and anticipate a lengthy race."

Binder disclosed that switching to different front forks had significantly improved his performance.

The South African remarked that although he finished in 7th place, he managed to close the gap with the group ahead and felt more confident. He acknowledged that there is still potential for improvement and emphasized that managing the tyres would be crucial in the upcoming race. He expressed optimism, stating that he is skilled at tyre management and hopes to achieve a strong result.

Wildcard rider Espargaro, on a significantly upgraded prototype RC16, regretted his slip in Q2 as he believed a second-row start was within reach. Nevertheless, he was satisfied with securing a legitimate top-ten finish, with only Marc Marquez crashing out in front of him.

"I believe we had the chance to secure a spot in the second row, but things don’t always turn out as planned until you actually finish!"

"The Sprint was alright, but the conditions were much different from those during testing. It took me a while to readjust to judging the braking, slipstream, and the physical demands."

"We posted impressive lap times during the test, but I also had to keep an eye on the front tire's temperature today. Overall, we gathered valuable data for tomorrow and in general."

"Placing in the top ten was satisfactory. I'm content with the result… Although there's always a desire for greater achievements."

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