News 18 Feb 2017

Positive Phillip Island test adds to confidence of Miller

Queenslander firmly establishes himself inside top 10 during testing.

Source: Supplied.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller heads home from Phillip Island in a positive frame of mind after an extremely successful three-days of testing. The local star improved his lap time once again on the final day to end ninth on combined timings.

Warm and sunny weather greeted the riders as they arrived to start the third and final day of the test but, once again, with a strong and unpredictable wind causing some issues especially through turns two and three.

This was a particular problem during 22-year-old Miller’s race simulation, which he undertook just before the lunch break, as it was impossible to predict the strength or the direction of the wind, both of which changed with each lap.

Despite the wind the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider managed to set his fastest time of the test at 1m29.358s on Friday, to finish just 0.809s off the fastest time, set by Maverick Viñales.

“These three days here at Phillip Island have been really positive for us,” Miller said. “For the first time in a long time I feel like I’m in charge of the bike and not the other way round. We came here to confirm what we learnt in Sepang and we’ve done that, so we know our base set up works at two very different tracks and I’m confident it will be the same in Qatar at the final test.

“There is still some work to do before we get the season underway next month, but we’ve done much of the hard work and it’s now just a case of refining what we have to find the final few tenths we’re missing. Overall I’m pleased with our preparations for the new season and looking forward to the final test in Qatar next month.”

Michael Bartholemy, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS team principal, added: “This was another very positive test for Jack and one that will further boost his confidence as the start of the season approaches. He proved once again in Phillip Island that this year he’s both fast and consistent.

“The fact that he completed three days of testing with no mistakes and without a single crash shows that he still has something in his pocket if it’s needed. A good job by Jack and a good job by the team and one that I’m confident will be repeated during the third and final test in Qatar, where we hope Tito will be back in action too.”

Recent