Miller happy with 5th, ‘Ducati is rocket ship off the start’

Jack Miller will start fifth for Ducati ahead of today’s first MotoGP race of the 2021 season at the Losail International Circuit. 

Miller finished qualifying four tenths down on the all new lap record time set by team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, but is confident of being inside the top two positions by the first corner. 

Speaking after qualifying, Miller said: "The Ducati is a rocket ship off the start line, for sure I’ll be in the top 2 by turn 1. 

"I’m not too stressed. Pretty happy with my performance. I was under the lap record. Just wasn’t able to put it together on the second tyre. 

"We’re in a fantastic position. Not much to say. For sure I want more but I’m not disappointed. 

"I would be if I was on the 4th row. But being on the 2nd row and under the lap record is good. I definitely felt I had more in the tank so it’s making me even more eager to start the race."

The Ducati’s have consistently been quickest on the kilometer long straight at Losail, and will make it difficult for the Yamaha riders to overtake. 

With four Yamahas and three Ducati bikes inside the top seven starting positions, it’s fair to assume a winner is likely coming from this group of riders. 

Miller was asked about the Yamahas and what he expects from the race. 

"Look at the past year. The Yamaha is always fantastic with pace, with lap times, with everything," added the 26 year-old. 

"We’ll see how much improvement they’ve made. But look back at the past. Dovi was doing 56s sitting in the back of the pack for a fair bit of the race and worked his way to the front. 

"We’ll see what the conditions are tomorrow. It will be windy. Hopefully there will be a head wind. We’ll see how much sand there is. 

"The sand will create even more tyre wear. We’ll have to manage them as best as we can. It’ll be like Phillip Island. You can’t push to the limit, otherwise you can’t finish the race."