Jack Miller’s Crash a “Blessing in Disguise” as He Leads Yamaha in Malaysian MotoGP Practice

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller described his early crash in Friday’s practice at the 2025 Malaysian MotoGP as a “blessing in disguise” after finishing third and topping Yamaha’s efforts at Sepang. The incident led to setup changes that boosted front-end confidence, securing him direct Q2 qualification behind Red Bull KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco.

Miller faced a challenging morning with a technical issue on one bike, followed by a low-speed crash at the final hairpin. The crash prompted setup tweaks that enhanced his feel, enabling a strong afternoon performance despite rain interruptions.

“We didn’t have luck on our side this morning. We had an issue with one of the bikes, and then I was just getting into my rhythm again on the second bike,” Miller told MotoGP.com. “The hard front tyre is always a little bit critical on the edge, but [there was] kind of no warning [in the crash]. Going in, everything felt under control. And then as soon as the slide stopped, it overloaded the front, and I was on my elbow before I knew about it.”

The crash, similar to recent incidents, led to a new setup approach. “Maybe performance-wise it’s not the ultimate move, but just to try and give me a little bit more feedback and make it a little less critical on that point,” he explained. “This afternoon I was able to get a little bit more feedback out of the front tyre, especially at the end there when I had to really push for a lap time. So [the crash was] a blessing in disguise, maybe.”

Rain added complexity to the afternoon session. “Honestly, I was really nervous, because it was bucketing down during the session,” Miller said. “But I was able to get out on track thankfully at the end there. Diggia [Fabio Di Giannantonio] set a good marker for me, and I was able to chase him down and have a good Friday.”

Coming off a front-row start and fourth-place Sprint finish at Phillip Island before crashing in the Grand Prix, Miller remains measured. “We’ll take it one step at a time,” he said of aiming for another front row in Saturday’s qualifying. “Obviously, it was very nice to go straight through to Q2, so now we’re trying to focus on tomorrow, trying to work on our pace.”

Miller noted solid race pace but identified areas for improvement. “The bike is struggling to accelerate, even compared to Diggia there, out of Turn 4, 9, 14. So just try and get that transfer a little bit better, try and use the rear tyre a little bit more and see what we can do come qualifying,” he added.

Yamaha showed strength with Fabio Quartararo fifth and Alex Rins also in Q2, while Miller’s Pramac teammate Miguel Oliveira finished 18th.

Sportrik’s in-depth analysis highlights Miller’s setup adjustments as a testament to Yamaha’s adaptability in Sepang’s wet and dry conditions. With three Yamaha riders in Q2, the team is well-positioned to challenge for top grid spots. Miller’s experience and recent Phillip Island form make him a threat if acceleration issues are resolved.

Variable track conditions due to rain emphasize tire strategy for qualifying and Sunday’s race. Miller’s newfound front-end confidence could propel Yamaha to a strong finish, bolstering their momentum to close the 2025 season.