Jack Miller feels “in the trenches” after falling due to a “costly mistake” at the MotoGP race in Portimao on Sunday.
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This meant the new entry at Factory Ducati scored only 14 out of a possible 75 points, after two ninth places – due to tire and arm pump problems – in Qatar.
Miller arrived fresh from surgery in Portimao to fix the arm pump problem, qualified fourth on the grid and was confident of setting a competitive pace in the race.
But his chances ran out on lap 6 of 26 when he lost the lead after being trapped behind the Aprilia by Aleix Espargaro on the approach to the Turn 3 hairpin – his Desmosedici suddenly slipped out from under him.
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“The brake pressure was right at its peak. You always get a peak and then it flattens out. At that point it was,” said Miller. “Aleix braked half early and all weekend I was one of the later ones and I just got the thing wrong and I had to apply a little more pressure, I think, and stowed it away.
“Quite my fault. Just a really stupid mistake, a costly mistake.
“It was only a short race, but definitely pretty hectic with the stuff with Marc and Mir at the beginning.
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“I used to make a small mistake that Aleix had let through when I got to the front at Turn 1 with Mir, and I just had too much approach speed on him. I had to drive a little wider than I wanted.
“Then I tried to deal with our situation as well as possible. I got into my rhythm. Fabio was gone, so I knew that I had to somehow settle down and get involved. But just a stupid mistake that made me one cost a fair amount. ” fifth.”
The Australian had also suffered some strange falls during daylight training in Qatar.
“I think it’s just awkward,” Miller said. “The crashes in Qatar were what they were. Testing the front tire and it’s nothing. But they certainly weaken your confidence a little.
“I didn’t even feel like falling here all weekend and then it really surprised me.
“I was just getting into the rhythm of the race and it was one of those people where you kind of slide and say, ‘What just happened?’ Then the extent of the situation really hits you.
“I think a lot of us made mistakes today. The track wasn’t easy. But my fall was just my fault. I just braked too much at the wrong time and the grip wasn’t there.”
“Of course I’ve had three falls this year. It’s not bad, but I definitely don’t want any and you want to finish as many races as possible.”
“We’re in the trenches right now. I’m trying to dig my way out.
“It’s not easy. We all want to win. We all want to be at the top. In reality, that’s not always the case. It’s difficult, but I’ve been in worse positions in my career and I’ve dug myself out.”
“We have the pace. We have the pace. We know that. I just have to bring it all together. It’s just one of those things. I’m really disappointed for myself, for the team. Thank you for going through it all I just want to make it better.
“It will come. There are only three races. We made our work really difficult, but the tables will turn.”
Meanwhile, team-mate Francesco Bagnaia took his second podium of the season by finishing second behind Quartararo on Sunday.
“Pecco drove a fantastic race today,” said Miller. “He was very calm at the beginning. He was able to stay out of the fights that were going on everywhere. I take my hat off to him.
“I hope we can be back where I left off last year. I feel just as good on the bike as I did last year. We had three races that weren’t my best. I know I can do better. “
“I did 18 laps yesterday and felt good. My pace was similar [to Bagnaia]. I knew I would have fought with these guys. I don’t want to sound like an asshole because I’ve seen people say, ‘Yeah, I would have won the race’.
“The race is long and I didn’t make it so I won’t say that. But I think I could have run the pace for sure.”
Miller announced that the accident also put strain on his healing arm.
“That [arm] felt fantastic all weekend, even in the race. Then I wanted to take the threads out tonight, but when I fell the threads went out on their own. I honestly didn’t even know until I took off the leather suit. Now I’ve had it re-sewn and we’ll start the healing process over. “
That also means no motocross training before Jerez in two weeks.
“Just on the bike. That’s all I can do. They said try not to do any strenuous activity and I said, ‘So that doesn’t mean motocross?’ And they said, ‘Yeah, no motocross, Jack.’
“So this week just get back on the bike and wait for it to heal.”