A ray of hope for Yamaha: Jack Miller a strong fifth – but there is one concern

Jack Miller provided the highlight for Yamaha at the Sachsenring on Friday. The Australian qualified fifth in free practice, just 0.447 seconds behind Marc Marquez’s fastest time, securing a direct place in Q2 and becoming the only one of the four Yamaha riders to achieve this feat. Whilst Miller put in a convincing performance, his team-mate Fabio Quartararo, the second-fastest Yamaha rider, could only manage 15th place.

For his fastest lap, Miller found himself a fast lead rider. However, Miller did not want to attribute his lap time solely to slipstreaming. Whilst having a rider in front is helpful for reference points, Miller felt competitive even when riding on his own.

What is Miller’s lap time worth?

“It’s nice to have a target in mind, but in the end you use the others as a reference to catch up with them,” explained the Pramac rider. “To be honest, I felt good even on my own. It’s nice to be on a track where we don’t have to rely on engine power. Here, you’re practically playing with the throttle for the whole lap. Compared to last year’s bike, we’re finding grip more easily. So I’ve got absolutely nothing to complain about.”

Nevertheless, a problem emerged during the second run that is causing Miller concern ahead of the Sprint and Grand Prix. After just a few laps, the front tyre had already deteriorated significantly. “I actually felt that there was more to come in that lap. But the front tyre was already done for by Turn 7. After that, I was missing four or five degrees of lean angle in all the left-hand corners. After just four laps in total, the tyre was suffering from severe graining,” explained the 30-year-old. Although Yamaha tried out some setup changes between the runs, tyre durability remains a tricky issue.

High praise for the Yamaha chassis – the engine remains the weak point

For Miller, the Sachsenring confirms above all that, apart from the engine, the Yamaha now has a competitive overall package. “I’ve been saying that all season. When braking, we’re sometimes 15 metres later than everyone else, but to compensate we have to accelerate 15 metres earlier. This puts an enormous strain on the chassis and the tyres,” he explained. The main problem, he said, remains the lack of power. “We’re at least 15 to 20 PS short compared to the competition. With more power, the bike would handle completely differently.”

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When it comes to the electronics, too, Miller sees less of a fundamental problem and more a matter of fine-tuning. The key, he says, is as smooth a transition as possible when first opening the throttle, as well as a harmonious delivery of power. “If you push it too hard, the rear wheel spins out – just like on any track. That’s not the fastest way. It’s about making the response as smooth as possible whilst finding enough grip. That depends on the engine’s character and how the power is delivered.”

Yamaha riders are only as good as their ‘tools’

Despite a strong Friday, the Australian remains realistic. Whilst the result is a confirmation of his form, it does nothing to change the fundamental shortcomings of the M1. “A Friday is just a Friday,” Miller emphasised. “I believe I’m one of the best riders on the grid – just like every one of us. But you also know what tools you’ve got at your disposal. If you don’t have the right tools in your bag, it’s bloody difficult to show what you’re capable of.”

To back up his point, Miller cited two prominent examples: “Look at what Marc has been through with the Honda, or Valentino with the Ducati. If the package doesn’t work, then it just doesn’t work – regardless of whether you’re Marc Marquez or Valentino Rossi.”

Miller has experienced on several occasions that the results often fail to reflect the Yamaha’s true potential this season. “There have been a few qualifying sessions where I’ve done a lap and thought: I can’t do any better than this. Then you look at the timing screen and you’re only 15th or 16th. You find yourself wondering: ‘How can I only be 16th with a lap like that?’” Friday at the Sachsenring was therefore a rare moment when a strong performance was also reflected in the standings.