Image: Supplied.

The adaptation of Australia’s Jack Miller onboard the RC 16 continued at the Sepang MotoGP test, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider gaining a greater understanding of the bike and what he needs from it.

Miller’s first outing with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the premier class took place at the Valencia post-season test in November last year, and following a two-and-a-half month MotoGP winter break, ‘Thriller’ returned to action alongside the MotoGP field in Malaysia.

Despite rain impacting day two and a crash at turn one on Sunday, the number 43 completed over 110 laps across the first official outing of the season and concluded the proceedings 18th fastest with a 1m58.901s, just over one second from pacesetter Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and less than and two-tenths from top RC 16 rider Pol Espargaro (GasGas Factory Racing Tech3).

“By the last day we were at a point with the bike where we were making good steps with the setup and we were looking how I could get more comfortable,” Miller explained. “We continued to tweak the geometry and the last adjustment allowed me to feel decent with used tires.

“I was very happy with the new engine and I’m getting much more understanding of the bike and what I need from it. That’s the process. We’ll continue with that in Portimao and I think we ticked as many boxes as we could here in Malaysia.”

With a host of data gathered across the three days, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing alongside the other MotoGP teams have a month to develop improvements before testing resumes at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal on March 11-12.