Australian Jack Miller may have lost the Moto3 championship, but the manner in which he conceded the title highlighted his potential moving into MotoGP.
Miller fought through the pack to take the win at the Valencia Grand Prix, showcasing his aggressive style that has impressed in the junior class.
But it wasn’t enough to secure the championship, in the end losing out to Alex Marquez, younger brother of MotoGP champ Marc Marquez.
Miller’s bitterness at the championship defeat was evident after the race, sulking on the podium despite the race win. Yet it’s this single-minded focus that will hold him in good stead in the main class.
In that sense, Miller seems to possess many of the qualities that took countrymen Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner to world championships.
He has a hard-edged personality wired to win at any cost – just look at the manner in which he fought in Moto3, against a group of Europeans for whom success in the junior categories is about so much more than promotion into the main class.
Many in Australia didn’t like the way in which Miller acted after the race in Valencia. And that sort of “chip on the shoulder” attitude could divide fans back home, in much the same way that Stoner did in his battles with Valentino Rossi.
But this hard-nosed mentality is essential in sports such as MotoGP; so Euro-centric in its nature that outsiders such as Australians are often limited in terms of opportunities and looked down upon.
Miller will step up to MotoGP with the customer Honda Team LCR squad in 2015, fittingly the same team for whom Stoner debuted in the premier class.
Miller’s decision to buck the trend and skip the intermediary Moto2 class is undoubtedly a risk, but the opportunity to get into the premier class and take a few years to learn the surrounds with the blessing of a manufacturer such as Honda is an opportunity too good to miss.
It will be a surprise if Miller is competitive right away, as there is a steep learning curve ahead with the gap between the factory and customer bikes another limiting factor.
But the key for Miller will be how he handles that learning curve and the rate of improvement he can show in his rookie season.
We know he can ride, there’s no doubt about that. But the real challenge will be psychological, as he goes from fighting for a championship in one class to hoping to squeeze into the top 10 in another.
Stoner rose to this challenge in an era when a customer bike could contend for race wins. Miller enters MotoGP at a time when the factory bikes are even more dominant.
Nevertheless, Australia seems to have its next big motorbike-racing star. There was noticeable void left following Stoner’s premature retirement, prompting some to question whether there was a talent drain down under.
But Miller is definitely showing the signs of following in Stoner’s path in the coming years…
nordster
Guest
There are more and more options looking forward...suzuki and aprilia developing..,talk of ktm even for 2017. The 2016 regs will be interesting, im suspicious of too much shared tech. As long as they aren't trying to make all the bikes too 'samey' across manufacturers. So far it sounds like only the hardware and shared software. But the idea of the teams all sharing anything seems absurd, not a big fan of the general direction it may be heading post '16. Wait and see i guess! I like motogp as is, there is a class for the super close 'levelled out' racing field, its called moto3:)
Frankie Hughes
Guest
I don't see Jack Miller getting a factory Honda ride. He'll end up at Yamaha or Ducati. Honda are already dreaming of a Marc-Alex dream team.
dacron
Guest
i doubt a marquez will be put on the repsol bike with his brother in 2016 , i believe he will have 2 years in moto2 rather than 1 , also i believe HRC have serous interest in miller and watching how they juggle him and alex will be interesting , both honda and yamaha made serious bad decisions regarding stoner back at the end of 06 and spent the next 4 years being humbled by him on a ducati , i believe this is still very fresh in the eyes of honda and regarding miller , alex already a repsol plant will more than likely get pedrosa's seat but only if jack isn't performing extraordinary (which i believe he will regardless the bike) , hard to say exactly what is written in the contract but knowing jack there would have to be a performance clause that seeks a better bike after the first or 2nd year , otherwhise another factory will just snatch him up , imagine ducati :o
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Stoner too had a few missed opportunities in his career which arguably could have seen him won another championship at least. His reasons were not of course of his own volition, with the lactose intolerance and then the ankle injury in 2012. Jack on the other hand has to opportunity to definitely go beyond what Casey's record is, and from this age if he learns to adapt well in the premier class we may be set to see a future champion in him. I like what nordster pointed out too about both Marquez brothers being on the factory Hondas together in a year or twos time. To eventually be a MotoGP champion, Jack'll have to beat his rival of this year in the future I reckon.
nordster
Guest
report from last night's test.... http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/valencia+motogp+test+day+3+report and... http://www.lcr.mc/eng/news/2014/miller-delighted-with-first-test-on-cwm-lcr-honda_ID_3_IDa_13138.htm#sthash.S0zmGvJk.dpuf MILLER DELIGHTED WITH FIRST TEST ON CWM LCR HONDA After overnight rain in Valencia left the track surface damp this morning, the CWM LCR Honda riders had to wait for it to dry completely before they could leave the pits for the final day of three days testing at the Spanish circuit. Tuesday’s heavy downpours had thwarted Jack Miller’s opportunity to get to grips with his new Open category Honda RC213V-RS, but once the track had dried today, the Queenslander put in 61 laps, with a best time of 1’33.746. Having moved from a bike with less than a quarter of the power of his new MotoGP machine, this test was always about the Australian familiarising himself with the package he will race in 2015. Both he and the CWM LCR Honda Team were extremely happy with his quick adaptation and they will get another chance to improve that rapport when he joins other MotoGP rookies for an extra test in Malaysia at the end of this month. Jack Miller #43 (21st, 1’33.746, 61 laps – 25th overall) “It’s been an impressive three-day test, and it’s a shame we only got to ride two due to the weather. Nonetheless I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made with the bike over these days, everything has been new like the weight and the power, but it’s been a great experience. I’ve improved every single time I’ve exited the pits, and I can’t wait to get more bike time in Malaysia at the end of the month. As we get more experience we will be able to work a lot more on improving the electronics and the set-up to get a better feeling with the bike. In terms of lap times, we’re not too far away if you consider that I’ve only just come from Moto3 and I feel happy with the progress and look forward to improving even more as we ride it more. We’re not focusing on the times just now though - the main goal is just to get more and more comfortable. Between now and Malaysia I’ve got a busy training schedule planned. My fitness actually felt good during the test, but I still think I need to get some more strength in the chest area to cope with the new machine. Much of this will come with riding though, and you can only get that strength in those areas by riding a MotoGP bike, so I’m excited to get back to work in Sepang in a couple of weeks.”
nordster
Guest
It's a well timed move imo...the regs are changing substantially in 2016 so he'll have a low pressure year to get familiar with the bigger bike. Rather than joining the motogp queue in moto2. More than likely Alex and Marc will share a team in '16 anyway, Pedrosa is warming the seat for next year (and this lol) it seems. A brotherly repsol honda outfit will be irresistible you'd think! So they can get the rivalry back for then, with Jack having had a year on a lower model honda in the meantime. Maybe he's been promised a better spec bike for 2016. Though with everyone on open class, perhaps the honda's will be similar across the teams. Watching the testing on monday (tuesday washed out for most teams) Jack's times were very good in comparison to what his model bike was doing this season with more experienced riders. Good signs for him next season. Like u Adrian i do like his attitude as well :) ...he irritates some, but has plenty of allies in the paddock by the sounds. I do like to see him carry himself with a bit of swagger...humility can be over rated at times lol, there's a time and a place for both ha!