Jack Miller shrugged off aches and pains brought on by a nasty thump he suffered in an accident during Free Practice 3 for the French MotoGP at Le Mans, the Australian bouncing back to score second on the grid.
Quickest in the damp conditions on Friday, Miller found the going a little tougher in the dry initially on the Pramac Ducati but was winding up for a quick lap in FP3 when he was flicked into a slow but awkward high-side, that saw his shoulder and neck make first contact with the asphalt.
Able to escape serious injury beyond stiffness, Miller showed no signs of it holding him back in Q2 as he very nearly got the better of Fabiuo Quartararo in what was a thrilling end to the Q2 session.
“The weekend has been good, but it has been pretty cold out there and I found that out first hand on the second run.
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“It was a strange one [the accident]. I rolled off at Turn 6, let Frankie [Morbidelli] through, so I wasn’t in his way and even out of there I tried to squeeze it and get some tire temperature for the right hand side. Went through the left, no dramas, but then … you saw what happened.
“The second one in three races, so I am getting a bit over it now. My neck has been stiff, my bac is stiff but we’ll be alright.
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Still within title contention provided he can get a good result under his belt this weekend, Miller thinks a podium – to go with his first and thus far only MotoGP win at Assen in 2016 – is in the offing.
“Le Mans is a track I have always liked. I had a victory here in Moto3 and I have ridden strong on the Honda and Ducati, but I haven’t got on the podium here so I will give it it a go tomorrow. The boys made a good pace, we will have to wait for the weather. “