Win ‘meant a lot today, could not hold back’ emotion - Miller
A difficult start to the 2021 MotoGP season was made a lot easier for factory Ducati rider Jack Miller in Jerez today.
Miller took his second career MotoGP Grand Prix win and first at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, after would be race winner Fabio Quartararo encountered arm issues mid-race.
The French rider was heading for a third consecutive win and Yamahas fourth from four before the physical issue appeared.
But Miller was there to take advantage and produced one of his better performances in the premier class, as he held off late pressure from team-mate Francesco Bagnaia.
Asked if he saw Quartararo as ‘prey’ once the Yamaha rider dropped back towards him, Miller said: "Not so much seeing ‘prey’ sort of speak. I just threw out the hook because I saw what he did last year and was thinking Fabio’s going to demolish us all.
"So I thought I’d throw out the hook, get towed around for a few laps and have a decent enough gap to just wobble around for the last few laps and hopefully get a podium or something.
"As I was doing that we probably had around six laps going for it and I saw he got out to that gap but it wasn’t going any more.
"If anything I was starting to catch him back. Then in two laps I caught back a massive chunk and thought ‘I had to pass him’ because he’s dropping."
That was indeed what happened to Quartararo as he dropped down the order to eventually finish 13th.
For Miller though, this result was much needed given his two ninth places in Qatar and crash in Portimao.
With Bagnaia going well on the other side of the garage with three podiums so far in 2021, the win brought out a range of emotions for Miller that was visible for all to see following the race.
Miller acknowledged he’s not been on a ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ like this before.
"Honestly, I entered turn one in like disbelief - turn two was starting to cry - turn five was like ‘Yeah’! I was screaming and then it was just up and down ever since," added Miller.
"I guess it’s just when you try something your whole life pretty much, and then it finally happens, the one thing you think about is let’s say 90% of the time the training you put in, and when you go to bed you dream about this moment.
"When you can finally achieve it you just go through that rollercoaster of emotions. I could not hold it back. I was trying to fight it, but (the win) meant a lot today."
