Miller has costly fall as Fernandez tops dramatic Qatar Friday

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 18 November 2023

A late fall means Jack Miller must negotiate the tricky Q1 session as Raul Fernandez topped a dramatic Friday in Qatar.

The penultimate round of the 2023 MotoGP season has begun under lights in Lusail with championship contender Jorge Martin getting the upper hand by being fastest in the opening session.

But it was RNF Aprilia’s Fernandez who finished the important second practice under lights on top as late yellows caused chaos.

It was a tight session as less than a tenth split the top three with Fernandez’ 1:15.843 edging out both Fabio Di Giannantonio and Maverick Vinales.

Vinales did fire a record-breaking 1:52.652 with less than two minutes to go but was demoted to third as he set his time under yellows due to a crash for Pol Espargaro.

Both title contenders Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin made it through the Q2 cutoff in eighth and seventh respectively, split by just 0.007s.

Jack Miller with the new KTM rear aero package. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

Martin got through despite “losing all of practice” due to tyre issues on both his fronts and rears on the Pramad Ducati.

But Miller could not join them after he fell in the final sector whilst running a new rear aero package on his KTM.

The Aussie was 0.014s away from the top 10 having been edged out by Marc Marquez.

Miller will be fighting with the likes of Marco Bezzecchi, Johann Zarco, Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Enea Bastianini to get one of the two passes into the final part of qualifying.

Qualifying begins at 23.40 AEDT tonight and the Sprint is held at 04.00 AEDT.

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Miller has costly fall as Fernandez tops dramatic Qatar Friday

It was a tight session as less than a tenth split the top three with Fernandez’ 1:15.843 edging out both Fabio Di Giannantonio and Maverick Vinales.

Martin got through despite “losing all of practice” due to tyre issues on both his fronts and rears on the Pramad Ducati.

Miller will be fighting with the likes of Marco Bezzecchi, Johann Zarco, Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Enea Bastianini to get one of the two passes into the final part of qualifying.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION or subscribe HERE

On this week’s Auto Action RevLimiter, we ramble on about Supercars. Why the finances don’t need a boost! What’s wrong with the calendar! Plus more!

Listen to our latest episode on your podcast app of choice or here

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