MILLER L OOKS FOR A PLACE ON PODIUM
TOWNSVILLE MotoGP ace Jack Miller is resetting his sights for the second half of the season, with genuine hope of claiming podium finishes.
The Alma Pramac Ducati rider is 10th in the championship after two fourth placings in Argentina and France.
Last Sunday in Germany he battled up to 14th after being bumped into the gravel by Pol Espargaro’s crash on lap 1.
The MotoGP teams are enjoying a three- week mid- season break before returning to Brno for the Czech GP on August 5.
Miller, 23, said that the circuits in the second half of the year, including Phillip Island in Australia, gave him hope of pushing up the grid.
“I feel there’s some tracks coming up in the second half of the season where I reckon we can fight for the podium, sure,’’ he said.
Miller is in his first year with Ducati after three years riding Hondas.
He can focus on competitive racing free of doubts about his 2019 seat.
The Alma Pramac team has secured his services and he will step up from a year- old Desmosedici to the 2019 machine, as will be ridden by factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci. Italian Moto2 rider Francesco Bagnaia will be Miller’s teammate next year.
“The goal is to be inside the top 10 and we just are, after the two DNFs. We were very close up until Mugello – we were sixth and just 10 points to second,’’ Miller said.
“So we’ve had a pretty consistent season.
“We’ve got better at finishing races but in the future we’re going to need a little bit more.’’
Today marks 100 days till the lights go out on Gardner Straight at Phillip Island.
“It’s a track that really works well with my style and how I ride. So, I’m just really looking forward to getting there,’’ Miller said.
Miller, who grew up on his family’s property in Kelso, began competitive road racing with the Road Racing Association of Townsville.
A former Cathedral School student, Miller started racing overseas at 16 years of age.
Honda superstar Marc Marquez, who won in Australia last October, leads the title race with 165 points from Yamaha factory duo Valentino Rossi ( 119) and Maverick Vinales ( 109). Miller has 57 points in 10th.
The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will be held at Phillip Island from October 26 to 29.