Jack Miller: 'Surreal' feeling to be in the factory Ducati team

'I felt physically good on the bike, which was nice, but for sure I'll sleep well tonight!' - Jack Miller talks about his debut in red and getting back the feeling of 'riding a MotoGP bike' after recent outings on a Panigale. 
Jack Miller , Qatar MotoGP test, 6 March 2021
Jack Miller , Qatar MotoGP test, 6 March 2021
© Gold and Goose Photography

Jack Miller was one of the last riders to head out on track during day one of the official MotoGP test in Qatar, but it was nonetheless a day to remember for the Australian who made his debut in the all red of Ducati. 

Miller completed the joint fourth most amount of laps of anyone in the top ten with 54 on his way to finishing the day in fourth. 

With the unpredictable wind conditions that were hovering over the circuit throughout, Miller and his team choose to forgo a time-attack effort and focus more on building the comfort level back up. 

It also meant that there was not much in the way of testing new parts, which will come on the final day tomorrow and the three day test next weekend. 

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Miller said: "To be honest we didn't test that much today in terms of items. It was more about getting back the feeling of riding a MotoGP bike.

"The first few laps, especially with this wind, felt very strange after being off the bike for quite some time.

"With the wind and everything out there today it didn't make sense to do a time attack. I did my best lap on the fifth or sixth lap on a tyre.

"The best time before that was done on the tenth lap on that tyre so I never really went for a laptime. I was just concentrating on our pace and working with the guys in the garage so that they could hear my feedback and understand how I explain things."

Ducati go into the 2021 season with a brand new line-up, which is the first time 2012. But with the form of Miller and team-mate Francesco Bagnaia at times in 2020, challenging for the title will be the main aim once again. 

While this was Miller's official debut in the factory team, the Australian has already been able to clock some laps in 2021 as part of a Ducati organised test in Jerez on Panigale superbikes. 

Miller hinted that this was maybe a reason for a strange feeling initially with the GP bike. 

"It was just getting the bike setup correctly and on one of the bikes the brake lever was a little bit higher than the other," said Miller.

"In general everything was pretty good but I don't know if it's because I had been riding the Panigale for the last few weeks but everything felt strange! The handlebar position, the seating position and everything felt strange for a few laps.

"I think that the wind had a lot to do with that because you're wobbling around a little to try and not get in anyone's way.

"All the things we found today we overcame them and I'm really happy with the way things are happening in the box and hopefully we continue to work on that tomorrow. I felt physically good on the bike, which was nice, but for sure I'll sleep well tonight!."

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