The Australian led more than half the race in Austin this Sunday, but in the final part of the race the Italian Enea Bastianini, with a Ducti 2021, passed him and ended up taking the victory, a new notch from the Gresini team boy in his battle to take over Jack Miller’s place in the official team next season.
For the first time, in the post-race press conference, in which Jack finished third, the Australian was asked if he would return to Pramac next year as a lesser evil.
“All the bikes are good, they are fantastic, they are the same bike, for me the important thing is to be in MotoGP, I don’t care which team, I just want to live my dream and continue here, with the fans, enjoying the races”. Miller replied, making it clear that it would not be a problem for him to retrace his steps and return to the satellite team of the Italian brand, in which he was already before making the jump to MotoGP.
And about whether the result of this Sunday can influence the decision of the Italian brand, he did not want to lengthen.
“I don’t know, I’m here to do my best, if Ducati renews me it will be fantastic, I love the team, but it’s not up to me, I’ll focus on doing my best”.
The truth is that Miller led many laps, but he couldn’t last the final part of the race and ended up losing two places, as Alex Rins also passed him on the last lap.
“Things are as they are, it is what it is, the season started a bit difficult, the weekend in Argentina was not easy at all, this is a long championship, there is still a lot to do, I feel good, it was a tough race , there are no doubts about it, I have tried to escape but it has not been possible, I have not been able to win”, he admitted.
“I made a couple of mistakes at Turn 11 and I couldn’t secure second place either. Things got complicated in the end but at least we finished on the podium, it was a nice battle with Rins, a great duel, very clean”, explained Miller.
Miller, who in previous years had a tough time with Joan Mir, has wanted to insist on the battle with Rins, which he described as clean several times.
“Alex fought hard in the last corners and there was a moment when I couldn’t manage the rear tire well, the most important thing was not to make mistakes, but both Enea and Alex had a great race. But we have shown that we have a good pace in the race, which is important”.
So far the racing so far has been insane and the four big favorites have yet to win this year.
“In Europe everything will continue the same, it is a very long, very tight championship, things will continue like this when we get to Portimao. The most important thing, in the end, is to have fun racing and if you get to the podium, even better”.
Miller said nothing substantial has changed to have delivered a strong performance this weekend.
“If I knew what has changed to be on the podium, I would do it constantly,” he released.
And about the difference with Bastianini, he did not focus on the fact that they have different bikes.
“Enea has a very particular style, he is very focused and constant, he is able to remain stable and calm on the bike every lap. It’s very fast, small and slippery.”
“The technical package is important, but the first sector of Austin is very physical, it has nothing to do with whether you go with a 2021 or 2022 Ducati, it has been very tiring, but Enea has managed the first sector very well, one lap ago well all the sectors, with the wind it was not easy to manage it”.
The Australian also considers that the circuit has improved after the reforms.
“The resurfacing has helped a lot to achieve a race with a record included, and we cannot forget that Marc Márquez has been absent the last two weekends, he has almost always managed to win here, but now all the riders are at a very high level” , in reference to the fact that with Marc in shape things would have been different.
Finally, they asked him if the 2021 Ducati that Enea is riding is still better than the 2022.
“I don’t think the 2021 Ducati is better at managing the tire than the 2022, last year Bastianini was on the 2019 and he was already doing the same, so it’s his credit, he’s fast and good at time management. I would like to emulate Enea’s management, but I can’t, and I’ve been here for many more years than him”, settled.
