Ducati factory rider Jack Miller immediately found the feeling he had missed on Sunday at the Barcelona test on Monday. However, the new disguise did not play a major role.
Jack Miller was frustrated after 14th place in the Catalunya GP and massive problems with the hard rear tyre. The test on Monday went much better again, in contrast to the race, the time of 1:39 was achieved.
“It was much better today than driving a different motorcycle,” said “JackAss” on Monday afternoon. «In the morning I was fast right away, I felt good on the bike. The medium tire I used half the day wasn’t ideal. But the other two were fantastic.”
What was different compared to Sunday? «We swapped rear wheels and it was fantastic. That’s it. In the morning I rode exactly the same bike as in the race for a consistent 1:39 min. It’s frustrating, of course, but that’s motorcycle racing and you have to try to get the best out of every situation,” said the 27-year-old.
The Ducati factory rider spoke to the Michelin technicians after the race, did you have anything interesting to say? “Not really. I believe that this stretch is the problem [mit den Unterschieden] between the tires has really tightened. It’s something they work very hard on. You try to eliminate it. One thing is certain: It wasn’t the right decision to choose the hard rear tire. Everything looked great on paper and the advice we received was pointing in the right direction. But it wasn’t the right choice,” he said dryly.
Commenting on the Monday test, Miller explained: “We’ve been playing around with the set-up and I think we’ve gotten ourselves into a position where I’m pretty comfortable. But it’s difficult to say because there’s a lot more wear on the track. Okay, it was hot, but the track is definitely in better shape on a Monday,” said the three-time MotoGP winner, looking at the timesheet of the one-day test.
What caught the eye in the Ducati camp was the new fairing, which was tested not only by the factory riders but also by Enea Bastianini and at the end of the day was entrusted to Luca Marini for four laps. It looks more pointed at the front and slightly larger than the 2022 standard version. The disguise has “positive and negative aspects,” Miller tried to use the usual test phrase.
When asked, the Australian explained: “I don’t have any problems behind the other panel either, but my body, shoulders and especially the biceps get a lot more wind. But the bike is easier to steer. With this larger fairing, it’s a cross between this year’s and last year’s, you don’t offer as much drag with your body but you sacrifice a bit in the corners. That’s why I say there are positives and negatives. It can work on some tracks and not on others.”
Result MotoGP test, Barcelona (June 6th):
1. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 39,447 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 39,451
3. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 39,500
4. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 39,558
5. Pol Espargaró, Honda, 1:39, 688
6. Miller, Ducati, 1:39,742
7. Viñales, Aprilia, 1: 39,780
8. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1:39,795
9. Bastianini, Ducati, 1: 39.844
10. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, 1: 39.963
11. Brad Binder, KTM, 1:39,998
12. Joan Mir, Suzuki, 1: 40,027
13. Marini, Ducati, 1: 40,047
14. Oliveira, KTM, 1:40.088
15. Gardner, KTM, 1:40,197
16. Alex Marquez, Honda, 1:40,335
17. Bradl, Honda, 1:40,474
18. Pirro, Ducati, 1:40,610
19. Dovizioso, Yamaha, 1:40,627
20. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, 1: 40,746
21. Bezzecchi, Ducati, 1: 40,765
22. Fernandez, KTM, 1: 41,144