Image: Supplied.

Australian MotoGP representative Jack Miller said he was ‘not happy’ after finishing 12th in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal, the Prima Pramac Yamaha rider citing excessive tyre wear as a contributor to his race-day struggle.

The 30-year-old qualified eighth on board his YZR-M1 after making it through to Q2, although a slow start in the sprint race left him with 14th place by the time the chequered flag flew.

For Sunday’s main encounter, the difficulty that has plagued the latter stages of this year would again emerge, with a lack of grip limiting his ability to push as he crossed the finish line in 12th position after 25 laps.

“Sunday went a little better than yesterday,” reflected Miller after the race. “I had a decent start and tried to challenge the guys ahead of me, but there were some areas where I was really struggling – especially on the exit of turns 14 and 15, and also through turn six.

“When the tyre started to drop, it just got harder and harder – the bike was pumping like hell, and I was just trying to do the best I could. So, not happy with the day, but we‘ll try to do better in Valencia.”

He is currently listed 17th in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship classification after the points scored in Portimao, with a single round remaining in this year’s season taking place at Valencia next weekend.