Young gun Jack Miller rounds the bend during the MotoGP Tests in Valencia. Photo: Mirco Lazzari gp
As MotoGP star Valentino Rossi defies his age by bidding for a late-life world title, Australian rookie Jack Miller is belying his youth in his leap into the premier class of motorcycle racing.
Rossi, 36, is the eldest rider in MotoGP, while 20-year-old Miller is the youngest after his unprecedented move straight from the third-tier Moto3 junior division, bypassing the Moto2 feeder class.
While the colourful Italian star is leading the MotoGP world championship in a stunning and unexpected return to form in the twilight of his storied two-wheeled racing career, the untamed talent from Townsville is learning to harness his ability and contain his wheel-standing 1000cc V4 Honda racer.
Miller has moved up from a 250cc single-cylinder machine producing around 41 kW (55 horsepower) to a hang-onto-the-handlebars beast pumping out about 180kW (240 horsepower).
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The big jump hasn't fazed the wild-riding Miller, but it is taking him time to come to grips with the nuances of MotoGP racing against the very best riders in the world.
After the first half of the 18-race season, he is 18th in world title standings with just 12 points from five top-15 finishes.
In contrast, born-again Rossi is leading the title after nine races with 179 points amassed from three wins and podium finishes in every race. He is vying for an eighth premier class world title and his first since 2009.
The grand old man of MotoGP is 13 points ahead of his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, himself a former world champion in the midst of a mini-revival that has netted four straight race wins, while the dominant title winner of the past two years, Marc Marquez, has struggled on his Honda and is fourth in the standings.
When his exuberance and inexperience hasn't caused early crashes, Barcelona- based Miller has scored a best of 11th in his four finishes.
After winning races and narrowly losing last year's Moto3 crown, Miller isn't thrilled to be scrapping for points finishes in MotoGP, but is satisfied that he is beginning to approach the potential of his Open class Honda, which can't compete with the less- restricted full-factory bikes.
"We've had a few ups and a few downs," he told Fairfax Media. "It's been a roller coaster, that's for sure. It's been difficult, of course, but nobody said it was going to be easy.
"We're the first to do the jump from Moto3 to MotoGP, so there are a lot of eyes on us and a lot of people are wanting us to fail. But I think we've proved it is possible to do it. We're slowly but surely getting through it all and trying to iron out all the creases. Overall, I'm really happy with the progress we've made."
Miller has spent MotoGP's northern summer break at home on his family's farm outside Townsville. He was in Melbourne on Wednesday to promote the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 18, by when he expects to be able to be fast enough to finish just inside the top 10.
While he has little hope of emulating Casey Stoner's feats at the Island, where the now retired two-times world champion won a record six straight AMGPs from 2007- 21012, Miller hopes for a respectable performance at his home nation race.
In fact, he hopes his affinity for the fast and flowing oceanside track will underpin his bid to top the Open class, which is a precursor to next year's more limited technical rules for the MotoGP category.
"It's going to be a little bit different, I think," Miller said. "Hopefully, we'll get the same reception as last year (when he won the Moto3 race to keep his title hopes alive).
OK, we won't be fighting for the title this year, but hopefully we can at least do a decent job and get a decent result."
Interest in MotoGP has been boosted by Rossi's renaissance, which along with Miller's graduation has fuelled a surge in ticket pre-sales of yup to 49 per cent for Phillip Island.
Like most in the MotoGP pit lane, Miller is rooting for Rossi – an outgoing character whose love of fun and mischief is matched by the irreverent Far North Queenslander – to add a final world title to his already legendary legacy.
"He's doing an amazing job at 36-years-old," he said. "We just don't know how he's doing it. The guy's been in it for so many years and been strong for so many years, but he still never ceases to amaze people.
"Hopefully, he can do it [win the MotoGP world title]. Fingers crossed for him. I think it'd be awesome for the sport if he could do it. The fact that he's winning races and leading the championship has brought a lot more interest back into the sport."
