The MotoGP world is buzzing with excitement as Jack Miller, the Australian rider, shares his insights from the Valencia test. But here's the twist: Miller's focus isn't on his own performance, but on his rival Fabio Quartararo's scorching lap time!
Miller, riding for Pramac, ended his first full day on the Yamaha V4 in 20th place, 1.491 seconds behind leader Raul Fernandez. After starting with this season's Inline bike, Miller switched to fine-tuning the prototype. His best time came on lap 49 of 51, but he was quick to acknowledge Quartararo's impressive 1m 29.927s lap, just half a second off Fernandez's pace.
The Yamaha team, including its four race riders, had a challenging day due to a delayed start caused by a slowly drying track. However, they will have an extra day on Wednesday for a private test at Valencia.
Miller's take on the V4 is intriguing. He believes there's work to be done but is optimistic about the direction. He praised Quartararo's lap, saying, 'We weren't too far away, but I've identified areas for improvement in my feedback and setup.'
With an additional day of testing, Miller aims to fine-tune the bike's details and test components to determine the best configuration for the upcoming Malaysia race. He emphasized the newness of the project, stating that the focus was on understanding and personalizing the bike.
But here's where it gets controversial: Miller believes Quartararo's lap was even more remarkable considering the V4's conservative power output. He hints at the V4's potential, suggesting it could surpass the Inline. 'Fabio being half a second off is promising, given our steady engine,' Miller added.
The electronics, however, require significant adjustments. Miller recalls the challenges he faced last year when transitioning to the M1, mentioning throttle progression, TC, and fuel adjustments. These tweaks are crucial for a smooth ride.
Test rider Augusto Fernandez, who rode the V4 to 16th place on Sunday, faced front-end issues. Miller confirms this, stating that a considerable improvement is needed. He empathizes with Fernandez's frustration, but remains confident that a clear direction will lead to a solution.
In other news, Miller's new teammate, Toprak Razgatlioglu, set the 18th fastest lap in his MotoGP test debut. Miller praised the WorldSBK champion's performance and expressed interest in hearing his feedback on the bike and tires.
Peter, a veteran in the paddock, has witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Valentino Rossi and is now at the center of Suzuki's exit drama and Marc Marquez's injury saga. What a journey!
