Image: Supplied.

A strong start to the Americas MotoGP saw Jack Miller swiftly elevate from P10 to inside the top three, feeling he had ‘a great chance of being there until the end’ if it wasn’t for the fall on lap seven.

Despite suffering multiple crashes throughout the third round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship, Miller delivered a spirited charge on the opening lap of Sunday’s grand prix to move his way from a fourth-row starting position to P3.

In the following laps he was able to stretch out to over a second ahead of those behind, while keeping within striking distance of leading duo Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and eventual race-winner Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol). Unfortunately, a fall on lap seven brought an end to his podium challenge, with the Australian unable to complete the outing.

“Unfortunate one,” Miller said. “I felt really good from the get-go. I made a decent start, felt comfortable and was settled into the race. I swapped a map and then she let go of me.

“I was really trying to manage the tires and I felt we had a great chance of being there until the end. The positive part was the speed and how we were up there with the guys. We’ll take that from the weekend. We’ll learn from the negatives and go towards Jerez with a clean mind.”

Prior to Sunday’s Americas GP, Miller qualified 10th fastest at Circuit of the Americas and was ninth in Saturday’s sprint race. He enters the fourth round of the championship in just under two weeks at Jerez, Spain, 12th in the standings with 26 points.