Image: Supplied.

As the MotoGP riders returned to action at Sepang’s pre-season test, Ducati Lenovo’s Jack Miller said the second and final day was ‘a big step forward’ after improving over 1.5 seconds from the opening day.

Miller finished day one down in P22, 1.806s from pace-setter Aleix Espargaro with a 2m00.177s, before improving on the rain-shortened second day to a 1m58.645s – just 0.514s seconds adrift from Enea Bastianini at the top of the charts.

The 27-year-old ultimately ended the two days 14th overall after completing 92 laps, satisfied with the progress made as he and the Ducati Lenovo team continued to work through a variety of programs and components developed throughout the winter break.

“Thanks to the data we gathered on the first day, we were able to take a big step forward today and I also felt more comfortable on the bike,” Miller explained. “Unfortunately, we missed the afternoon because of the rain, but we could still carry out most of our program.

“I have been busy testing some new components and maybe if we had pushed harder, we could have been even faster, but we are still not far off the front. In general, I’m satisfied with these first two days of work and I can’t wait to get back on track in a few days at Mandalika.”

Miller will get his next outing on the GP22 from 11-13 February at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Indonesia, that three-day test marking the final outing before the 2022 MotoGP World Championship commences.