Miller knocked out in brutal Q1

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 19 October 2024

Australia’s Jack Miller will start the 2024 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from 16th after a run in with a rabbit hurt him in the cuthroat Q1.

With only the fastest two of the 12 riders surviving the chop, it was always a big ask for Miller to secure progression into Q2.

But a moment coming across a rabbit made things even harder for the KTM Australian, who will start 16th after recording a 1:29.909 with his final lap of the 15 minute blast.

The fight to secure one of two coveted tickets to Q2 went down to the wire with both Raul Fernandez and Enea Bastianini nailing their final laps to go through.

The likes of Luca Marini, Johann Zarco and Pedro Acosta all suffered late heartbreak, appearing to be in position only to be demoted.

As a result the Tech3 rookie will start 15th, which is the lowest grid position of his promising career so far.

When the session started, wets were still the way to go and all riders aside from Bastianini and Nakagami hit the track straight away.

Zarco first to cross the line with a 1:34.481, two tenths clear of Miller’s opening effort on medium rain tyres.

But as the final 10 minutes began, it was clear slicks were the way to go with most of the riders options for softs and the times kept tumbling.

Marini and Acosta were leading the charge, taking turns in P1 and being the first to be in the 1m32s and 1m31s windows respectively.

The Tech3 rider was fling, posting a scorching 1:30.853 with three minutes left to enjoy a two tenth buffer on Marini.

It was not until the final five minutes where Miller had his first crack on the slicks and his initial attempt was only good enough for fourth, 1.349s away from Acosta.

Bastianini was the last to bolt on the slicks and went straight to second, incredibly matching Acosta’s time before the latter flew into the 1m29’s.

But the Ducati rider still had to fight for Q2 as both Marini and then Raul Fernandez went faster.

Despite a run in with the local wildlife, Miller put in a mighty 1:30.585 to go up to second with less than 90 seconds left, but the joy was short lived as Zarco snuck ahead.

The fight for Q2 went down to the very death and as the chequered flag was waved Bastianini and Acosta were in the top two, but no one was safe.

Miller had a crack, but to the disappointment of the crowd fell 0.092s short of the benchmark.

However, there was more heartbreak to come.

Marini thought he did enough, with his 1:29.727 enough to go to the top, only for both Raul Fernandez and Bastianini to go even faster.

The fight for pole is about to begin now.

Image: Gold and Goose

2024 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

Practice 1: Fri 10.45-11.30 (Fox Sports)

Practice: Fri 15.00-16.00 (Fox Sports)

Practice 2: Sat 10.10-10.40 (Fox Sports)

Qualifying: Sat 10.50-11.30 (Fox Sports)

Sprint: Sat 15.00 13 Laps (Channel 10/Fox Sports)

Warm up: Sun 9.40-9.50 (Fox Sports)

Grand Prix: Sun 14.00 27 laps (Channel 10/Fox Sports)

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Miller knocked out in brutal Q1

The fight to secure one of two coveted tickets to Q2 went down to the wire with both Raul Fernandez and Enea Bastianini nailing their final laps to go through.

Zarco first to cross the line with a 1:34.481, two tenths clear of Miller’s opening effort on medium rain tyres.

It was not until the final five minutes where Miller had his first crack on the slicks and his initial attempt was only good enough for fourth, 1.349s away from Acosta.

Despite a run in with the local wildlife, Miller put in a mighty 1:30.585 to go up to second with less than 90 seconds left, but the joy was short lived as Zarco snuck ahead.

Marini thought he did enough, with his 1:29.727 enough to go to the top, only for both Raul Fernandez and Bastianini to go even faster.

2024 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

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