Jack Miller’s gamble didn’t pay off. Targeting one of the two available Q2 spots, the Australian rider opted for the soft front tire — unlike the rest of the field who chose the medium — hoping to maximize Yamaha’s strong braking performance and secure a flying qualifying lap. Unfortunately, he couldn’t progress beyond fourth in Q1, leaving him 14th on the starting grid.
Starting mid-pack was always going to be challenging given the difficulty of overtaking in today’s MotoGP and the intense heat at Jerez, which hosted Round 5 of the championship under scorching conditions. With Augusto Fernandez also starting from 20th, a tough Saturday was expected for the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team.
In the 12-lap Sprint Race, the pace was ferocious from the start. Miller held his position off the line but ran wide at the final corner on lap one, losing three spots. His situation worsened on the following lap when a protective tear-off visor obstructed the bike’s airbox, causing temperatures to rise and making the YZR-M1 heavier and harder to maneuver. After passing Bastianini, Miller attempted an inside move on Marini — who had gone slightly wide — but suffered a low-side crash at Turn 6 and was forced to retire.
Augusto Fernandez, standing in for Miguel Oliveira, spent much of his race behind factory Yamaha rider Alex Rins, showing steady improvement in his pace and finishing in 17th place. Tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM local time, the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team will be back on track for the Spanish Grand Prix, with both riders aiming for a strong comeback and important points.
Jack Miller’s gamble didn’t pay off. Targeting one of the two available Q2 spots, the Australian rider opted for the soft front tire — unlike the rest of the field who chose the medium — hoping to maximize Yamaha’s strong braking performance and secure a flying qualifying lap. Unfortunately, he couldn’t progress beyond fourth in Q1, leaving him 14th on the starting grid.
Starting mid-pack was always going to be challenging given the difficulty of overtaking in today’s MotoGP and the intense heat at Jerez, which hosted Round 5 of the championship under scorching conditions. With Augusto Fernandez also starting from 20th, a tough Saturday was expected for the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team.
In the 12-lap Sprint Race, the pace was ferocious from the start. Miller held his position off the line but ran wide at the final corner on lap one, losing three spots. His situation worsened on the following lap when a protective tear-off visor obstructed the bike’s airbox, causing temperatures to rise and making the YZR-M1 heavier and harder to maneuver. After passing Bastianini, Miller attempted an inside move on Marini — who had gone slightly wide — but suffered a low-side crash at Turn 6 and was forced to retire.
Augusto Fernandez, standing in for Miguel Oliveira, spent much of his race behind factory Yamaha rider Alex Rins, showing steady improvement in his pace and finishing in 17th place. Tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM local time, the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team will be back on track for the Spanish Grand Prix, with both riders aiming for a strong comeback and important points.
Spanish GP MotoGP Schedule:
Sunday: 9.40 Warm-up, 14.00 Race (25 laps)