Pramac’s Jack Miller says he no longer feels like he is riding on the “ragged edge” now that he is riding a current-spec Ducati MotoGP bike for the first time during 2019.
Miller has jumped from the GP17 to the GP19 in his second season as a Ducati rider, and initially struggled in Qatar after a bizarre seat issue.
He then bounced back to record a fourth place finish in Argentina and says that in both races he felt better equipped to run at the front of the MotoGP field.
“I’m really enjoying riding this GP19 Ducati,” he wrote in his latest Red Bull column.
“I said to someone that I feel like I’m bringing a gun to a gunfight now, and that’s the best way of explaining it.
“The speed is easier to come by and you don’t feel you’re riding it right on the ragged edge every corner just to get a lap time out.
“That’s why Qatar was frustrating; with the way [Andrea Dovizioso] rode that race and controlled the pace, I reckon I could have stayed with the front group and been in a position to do something in the last few laps.
“In the first few laps on this bike is when I notice it, you’re not constantly over-braking and cooking the front tyre just to stay with those guys, and not trying to make up for not being able to stay with them on the straights.
“I can manage the tyres better because the speed of the bike is there, that’s probably the biggest factor.”
Miller was dragged into a frenetic battle for fourth and sealed the position late on, but felt he could have sealed a podium.
The Pramac rider was one of only two riders to opt for the medium compound instead of the hard tyre and was embroiled in early fights that meant he suffered degradation.
Miller said the mistake was his fault.
“It was my decision, I felt better on the medium. But with the heat we had we probably would have been better on the hard,” Miller said.
“Since the third lap, I was pushing the front. As the tyre got worn down on the rear I was able to control the front a little bit more, and it helped me make some moves towards the end of the race.
“Maybe, my strategy could have been a little better. I got into some tussles with [Franco] Morbidelli and stuff like that when I should have just maybe just let them burn themselves out and waited, rather than trying to fight them.
“I learnt a little bit today.
“We were probably lacking a little race experience, but from what I learnt today I feel can help us improve and make that last little step to fighting with [Valentino Rossi] and ‘Dovi’ for the podium.”