Ducati’s Jack Miller was thrilled to score a first MotoGP pole position since 2018, the Aussie insisting he’ll “fight for the win” in Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix.
Miller’s chances of fighting for a first pole since the 2018 Argentine GP increased significantly as rain began to fall prior to the start of Q2, presenting a track that was too dry for wets – conditions that Miller has always shone in.
He duly delivered after being one of the first riders to switch back to slicks from wets in the early part of the test, the three-time premier class race winner banging in a 1:31.899s to snatch pole by just 0.115s ahead of 2023 factory Ducati replacement Enea Bastianini.
Miller explained that not having to “chase the set-up” with his Desmosedici helped him to feel comfortable in the ever drying conditions, admitting that he’s “enjoying lap after lap.”
“I’ve been strong all weekend and the bike’s feeling fantastic again, honestly we haven’t really played around with it all that much, we went a bit softer and then put it back pretty much to where we rolled off at the start of the weekend,” explained Miller.
“The team’s working great and the bike is amazing so I’m enjoying lap after lap getting stronger and working on myself.
“Being able to focus on that is really good, as is being able to work with the tyres and not having to worry about chasing the set-up.
“It’s been a great weekend so far, my first pole for four or four-and-a-half years so it’s cool and hopefully I don’t get lost tomorrow starting all the way up there!”
Miller affirmed that he would “try and fight for the win” as he looks to end his final season with Ducati on a high, though conceded that he had “no doubt” that Bagnaia would catch him as the race progressed, leaving him anticipating a rather familiar battle.
“We’ll see what we can do tomorrow, but it’s a cool send off for my last Italian grand prix on a Ducati, and we’ll try and do something decent tomorrow,” continued Miller.
“He’s (Bagnaia) got his grid penalty, I’m just going to focus on my own job at the beginning.
“I have no doubt that he will come back to me and maybe even past me, he’s had a fantastic pace all weekend but we’ll try and fight for the win and if it’s not on we’ll try and take as many points as possible.
“We’ve been clawing our way back towards Aleix (Espargaro) and Enea (Bastianini) in recent races so that’s the main goal, we finished fourth in the championship last year so hopefully we can claim our way onto the overall podium by the end of it.”
