Jack Miller’s Thrilling Comeback: From Last-Lap Disaster to Top Five Triumph in Japanese MotoGP

Jack Miller: "I realized, 'Wow, I'm in the top five!'"

"As soon as I overtook Marc and Enea, it hit me, 'Wow, I'm in the top five!'"

Following a challenging start in Indonesia the previous week, Jack Miller made a remarkable recovery by advancing from 14th to 5th place during the first lap of the Japanese MotoGP.

The official KTM racer, who caused a crash involving three other riders on the first lap at Mandalika, expertly chose his paths on this occasion.

As Miller navigated the initial turns by staying close to the inside, he found himself in ninth position. However, Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Vinales veered off the track in front of him.

Miller managed to brake later than both Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini, allowing him to unexpectedly secure fifth place at the conclusion of the back straight.

"I usually start well and choose my paths effectively on the first lap, though last week was an exception because I ended up making a mistake," Miller stated.

"I was pleased with getting a solid start, and overtaking almost ten competitors on the initial lap felt great."

"I found myself in the perfect position at the perfect moment. I managed to maintain my place on the inside while things were getting hectic on the outside. I simply navigated the curb, kept things close, and avoided any trouble."

The experience of being present was enjoyable. As I sped down the back straight and overtook Marc and Enea approaching Turn 11, a thought crossed my mind: 'Wow, I'm actually in the top five now.'

"However, the anchor was quickly removed, and the boys rapidly began returning past me."

Miller stayed within the leading six racers until the sixth lap out of twenty-four, at which point Franco Morbidelli and Marco Bezzecchi swiftly passed him.

By the halfway point, Fabio di Giannantonio had pushed the Australian rider down to eighth place, while he confessed that he was wishing for the rain to intensify.

"I was wishing and praying that the distance would decrease a bit more, as the guys in front had managed to gain a significant lead by then, but I could still catch sight of them."

"It was just a light sprinkle, not as severe as the conditions Moto2 experienced."

Miller, along with several other racers, spent the rest of the race struggling to maintain rear tire traction, ultimately finishing in tenth position.

"It was really tough to maneuver around the corners at the finish, trying to make use of every bit of the track's edge, since that was the only spot where it seemed to get any traction," he explained.

"We're facing challenges with our speed as we navigate through and exit corners. While the front of the vehicle remains stable and performed well throughout the race, there's still room for improvement."

"This track, which requires a lot of braking, worked well for us. We'll return next week to try our luck at the Island and see how things unfold there."

Brad Binder, who is part of the same team, secured the sixth position.

The Australian Grand Prix, which is Miller's local event, is scheduled for October 18 through October 20.

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