Miller: FP2 like qualifying, Moto2 glare, 2023 'bullshit'

Among the novelties for this year's Qatar MotoGP season opener are the lack of any previous testing at the track and an earlier race start time of 6pm.

The absense of testing is likely to result in a slippery track for FP1, while the earlier schedule means only the final session of each day will actually be in the dark.

That narrows the window for effective race preparation to just FP2 (18:00-18:45) and, perhaps, FP4 (17:20-17:50).

But at least some of FP2, in the cooler and faster night conditions, will be dedicated to time attacks to secure a top ten place for direct access to Qualifying 2.

"I think it'll be different for sure," said Ducati's Jack Miller of the 2022 event. "Last year we had five days of testing prior to two race weekends and in the second race we had the closest top 15 in history. I think there's no coincidence in that.

"So I don’t expect the same sort of results here as last year. We're only going to have FP2 and FP4 at night to prepare for the race. That's it. And FP2 is going to be qualifying, pretty much from halfway or three-quarters of the way through.

"It's going to be a busy weekend. I think we have to be especially focussed every time we hit the track because the track time [in dark race conditions] is so limited."

The Australian added that there is no sign of any change in the surface following last year's inaugural F1 Qatar event.

"I went running around it yesterday and the surface looks good. Looks clean. So I don’t think there should be too many issues from F1 being here," Miller said. "But it's all well and good saying that running around the track, it's another thing riding around it, so we'll wait and see.

"They've done some other work [for F1] and it's nice to see some trees and stuff like that around the track. It actually gives you a bit of perspective you could say, rather than a desert. So that's pretty cool."

Miller believes the earlier MotoGP start time will help avoid the drop in temperature and grip of previous seasons, but is concerned about the glare caused by sunset conditions for the Moto2 class.

"I went running at around the Moto2 race time [16:20] yesterday and I know even from the previous years when I was in Moto3 doing the warm-up in the afternoon, you get that afternoon glare.

"So I'm not so much concerned for [MotoGP], it's nice, we won't have the issue of being too worried about the track temperature and everything.

"We used to start around 8pm and by the time you get into the race it's always around that halfway point that the humidity would really start to rise and you'd see a lot of guys crashing towards the end.

"But it's more for those [Moto2] guys just with the glare. Because at that point in the day it is kind of tough to see, visibility is not great, so that's not the easiest."

Miller left Qatar last season with just a pair of ninth places to show for his efforts, but went on to take two races wins and finish fourth in the world championship.

"I feel good, prepared well. Mentally calm. Let's say I know what I'm in for, whereas maybe last year I was more nervous, more this, that and the other," he said of starting the new season.

"But now it's just another weekend and I think having that sort of mindset just helps you to focus on what the important things are and doing your job right for the weekend.

"We're in a pretty good state with our bike and racing and testing are always two completely separate things. So definitely looking forward to going racing now."

While team-mate and title runner-up Francesco Bagnaia has already re-signed for 2023, Miller's future - like most of the grid - remains undecided.

The likes of Pramac's Jorge Martin and Gresini's Enea Bastianini have made their interest in the remaining factory Ducati seat clear, while Miller feels that – once again - he's being "written off" too early.

"I see my situation the same as it is every year. Every year around this time every journalist in the world starts to write shit about me, how I'm going to lose my job, how I'm done. Writing me off. So it's just the same as it ever was.

"There's nothing I can do, no control I have over that. So all I can do is the best job I can on track and if I keep my job, I keep my job. If I don’t, I don’t.

"It's just the same bullshit that I have to deal with every year. I don’t understand why I have to deal with it and others don’t, but it's okay. I'll accept that, continue on."