Miller: Shoulder injury 'much better'

Jack Miller has used the ten-day break since COTA to rebuild motion and strength in his arm, following a pre-Austin shoulder injury.

The Pramac Ducati rider fell from a mountain bike the Friday before the American round, leaving him with bone and muscle damage.

"A lot better," Miller replied, when asked about the injury at Jerez on Thursday.

"This week we've been working a lot in the gym to get motion and strength back in the arm and I feel we've improved that.

"I had a fracture in the collarbone through one of my old screw holes, where I've had a plate taken out. But that didn't bother me. I've ridden with that collarbone several times and it doesn't hurt. Honestly, it's like it doesn't have feeling.

"The problem was I had a tear in the muscle of the rotator cuff, which just takes time to get back to 100%.

"I knew I had the strength and straight braking was not a problem it was the changes of direction, especially when I had to try and pull the bike over from the left to the right. Using the right arm for that was quite hard.

"So I was really happy with my physical condition in the race because I was able to ride while overcompensating with the rest of my body - my legs and left arm - and not get cramps and stuff like I've had in the past."

Miller finished in ninth position after losing out to fellow GP17 rider Tito Rabat (Avintia) on the final lap.

"It was a solid race. I enjoyed it a lot. I would have preferred to be in front of Tito over the line but it was awesome to have a nice fight like that. A real fight to the last lap. It was really cool to enjoy that and we were fighting for a good position so it was nice."

Earlier in the grand prix, Miller had made a close pass on struggling factory Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo. The Australian hadn’t plan the move but dived for a gap when he struggled to stop in time after bottoming his suspension.

No contact was made but Lorenzo was forced to lift his GP18 and didn’t want to acknowledge an apology from Miller afterwards.

"For me, I don't have any problems," Miller said at Jerez. "Whether or not he [Lorenzo] wants to meet up with me I don’t know. He's not the bloke I'm going to go to the bar with and have a beer with!

"I enjoy racing against him and it's normally a good fight - we've had plenty in the last year - because somebody with his experience to try and follow and learn from is always good. Especially somebody who has had a year extra on this bike, is quite helpful."

Despite being in his first season with Ducati, and on a year-old bike, Miller has beaten Lorenzo in the races they have both finished this season.

What does he think is the main difference on track between his GP17 and the latest factory GP18s?

"Top speed. I think this year every bike has improved its top speed including the GP18. The GP18 is very fast. But if you look at the Honda and the Suzuki and the Aprilia, they are also very quick this year. Even the Yamaha.

"Being on a bike from a previous year sometimes you are missing a bit, the latest development, but compared to what I was riding last year for top speed I'm not complaining!

"I'm happy with my bike. It's working really well and we've seen last year this bike is very competitive and I think this year it can be also."

Miller, winner of the wet 2016 Dutch MotoGP, came close to his first Ducati silverware by battling for the podium in Argentina. Ultimately fourth at the flag, the #43 feels he will get more chances to fight for a rostrum.

"I feel we've shown potential in a lot of races and also testing, that we have the speed to fight for the top five on a good weekend. If we can try and do that then who knows, maybe try and go for a podium.

"It may not be this weekend, it may not be next weekend but I feel sometime this season. We were close in Argentina… "

Miller tested at the resurfaced Spanish circuit back in November.

"I've tried the new asphalt, it feels good. But the test last year was more of a shakedown test. I don't feel like I can count the results or times from that test because at the end of the season when you arrive at that test you are like an empty balloon. You are finished from the stress of the year, all the travelling, I just wanted to go back to Australia! I was done!

"But we did the laps and our set-up has changed a lot since we were here, so I'm interested to see because it's the first track we've gone back to since I've been on the Ducati, to see how we've improved. The riding style and everything."

As well as working on his shoulder in the run-up to Jerez, the Australian has been helping out young countryman Billy Van Eerde.

"I've had a really good week with the young Australian, Billy Van Eerde, from the Rookies and Asia Talent Cup. He's second in the championship at the moment and he's another Townsville boy, from where I'm from.

"I've known him since he was born and he and his father are now living with me up in Andorra. Just taking him out and trying to show him some training tips and everything like that. It's been good."

Miller is currently eighth in the world championship and the second best Ducati rider after world championship leader Andrea Dovizioso.