JACK ATTACK!
Miller on top at final GP test
Advantage Ducati. That’s the general consensus heading into the opening two rounds of the 2021 season in Qatar next week.
There were positives everywhere you looked throughout the three-team, sixrider Ducati project. Jack Miller posted the fastest time across the two days with a 1:53.183, after the third day was unofficially cancelled due to sand and dust on the track. That’s a new unofficial lap record, lap records don’t count during testing, beating Marc Marquez’s official record of 1:53.380. Ducati also dominated on the top speed charts, with all six riders inside the top seven. The thing is, everybody knows and understands that Ducati has a speed advantage, albeit a slightly increased one this year, so the biggest concern for their rivals is that Miller and co are also finding improvements elsewhere. When asked what his biggest positive is from the Qatar tests, Miller told MCN: “It’s my confidence with the front-end of the bike. I’m able to let the brakes off and allow the bike to really roll and carry some decent corner speed. I haven’t really had that confidence before, especially through the faster corners like turns 13, 14 and 15, where I can just let the brakes off and let the bike just hook in and turn. It feels fantastic!
“That’s the biggest bonus for me, really being able to get to the maximum by using all of the track, using the kerbs, both inside and outside, and really making the most of it through there. It feels really good. Of course, having good speed is nice too!”
The Aussie completed a 21lap race simulation on day two, using soft front and rear tyres, posting consistent lap-times whilst running the updated aero package. He didn’t go into too much detail, but Miller expressed positive feelings towards the unique fairing design, and it looks like it will remain on the GP21 for the start of the season. “Physically, the bike is working really well so I’m not getting worn out at all. Qatar is a semieasy track to ride but at the end of the race simulation I was hardly sweating. You feel at one with the bike, I feel really comfortable with it so I’m not having to override or force it throughout the track.” Francesco Bagnaia has also
‘I’m able to let the brake off for corner speed’
been enjoying himself, ending the test fifth (★0.261) and showcased impressive race pace during a 14lap run. During that stint, Bagnaia was consistently lapping in the mid to high 1:54s for the opening nine laps, before completing the final five laps in the low-mid 1:55s. Bagnaia also spent time focusing on generating heat into his front tyre – something he struggled with in 2020.
“My feeling with the bike is much better, maybe even better than last year when I was fast because I’m making things easier compared to last year,” Bagnaia told MCN. “This test was good for me last year, but I’ve now improved my pace and lap-time on the time attack. Although it’s very similar to last year’s bike, I’ve improved my riding style and feel with the bike. I’m really happy at the moment because I’ve never felt so good with this bike.”