MILLER REQUIRES ARM PUMP SURGERY

It was not the weekend that Aussie MotoGP rider Jack Miller was after, a ninth-place finish, a notable incident and revealed after the race that he suffered from severe arm pump.

The newly promoted factory Ducati rider came into the back-to-back Qatar races as one of the favourites after he broke the lap record at the venue in pre-season testing.

However, when it was needed during qualifying and the races this exceptional pace was lacking.

Miller explained after the second race that he is struggling with severe arm pump and is looking at getting surgery done before the next round in just under a fortnight.

“We’re looking into it (surgery) now trying to see if we can get operated on as soon as possible to try and speed up the recovery time,” Miller said.

“With how compact this championship is, and without having too many test dates and whatnot, (it’s difficult but) we’ll try and get something booked in and see if we can see someone.”

The Ducati rider explained that it is an issue he has struggled with throughout his career and is not overly concerned.

“It’s something I suffered with sometimes at the beginning of a season,” he explained.

A pair of ninth place finishes in Qatar is not what Miller was after and already finds himself over a race victory behind championship leader Johann Zarco, the Frenchman ironically riding for the team that the Aussie departed at the end of last season.

On Sunday there was an incident between Miller and reigning champion Joan Mir that raised eyebrows.

The notable incident happened at the end of the 13th lap when the pair clashed on the exit of the final corner, both riders were incredibly lucky to remain on their bikes.

The Suzuki rider was very outspoken about the incident putting full blame on the Aussie.

“I was wide in the last corner and normally in that place when you go wide, they (the other rider) have to give space for the one that is coming (back onto the line),” Mir explained.

“We both touched it was a manoeuvre in my opinion (that was) over the limit!

“It was really, really, really, dangerous and I hope that this doesn’t happen again.”

Rewind several corners to Turn 10 and that is where the controversy began. Mir made an aggressive move on Miller, the pair made contact and the Aussie was forced wide as a result. The Spaniard apologised by sticking his left right leg out (common courtesy in MotoGP).

“We had the one touch in Turn 10, it was really difficult for me to overtake them (the Ducati’s) in a different place,” Mir continued. “I tried a risky manoeuvre, I pushed him a little bit, not out of the track but out of the line. I tried to apologise with the leg.”

As anticipated, Miller had a very different view on the two clashes, saying that he is not required to move over.

“He (Mir) went wide, came back onto the track and I was there,” Miller said about the second collision. “I mean I’m not going to stand there and wave him through.

“It is very unfortunate, but also I was hit three times prior to that and I’m not complaining!

“It is what it is, that was where the race was going, he went wide and I was in the way when he wanted to come back on the track.

“You saw the race, everyone saw the race, and okay it gives everyone a talking point, but I prefer not to talk about it, just focus on what I need to do in the next coming Grand Prix to close down the gap to the front guys.”

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