Miller back on track at Sepang

The MotoGP rookie has hit Malaysia for three days of testing, and put in 39 laps on day one as he rode the 2015-spec Honda RC213V-RS for the first time

Aussie Jack Miller is now at Sepang in Malaysia for a three-day test session on his CWM LCR Honda RC213V-RS before the testing ban comes into force during December and January.

As a rookie to MotoGP next season, 19-year-old Miller is entitled to extra test days in order to smooth the transition to the premier class, and he was joined out on the 5.543km circuit by various test riders. Temperatures were cooler than during the scorching October race at the track, peaking at around 32°C, but with only four riders testing the surface took a while to clean.

Miller put in 39 laps on his new RC213V-RS until light rain at 4:00pm brought a halt to any further progress. His best lap was 2:04.92; Marc Marquez's lap record is 2:01.15.

“Today we got a chance to learn another track on the new bike, and it is a completely different style here compared to Valencia,” said Miller. “It was actually quite a difficult day because the bike was slipping and spinning up quite a lot with there not being many bikes out on track.

“By the end of the day, though, I started to really enjoy myself. I’m learning more and more how to adapt my style to the CWM LCR Honda, and how to set it up a bit better. The bike is still incredible, I’m really happy with the power it has and so to ride it here in Malaysia and be able to use its full potential is great.

“We will continue working on my riding style and we’ll see where I get to in the end.”

While Miller was cutting laps at Sepang, his team boss Lucio Cecchinello was being interviewed by motogp.com about his expanded team, which also features Cal Crutchlow on a factory satellite Honda. Here’s some of the interview:

Miller is a talent, of that there is no doubt. But coming straight from Moto he will have to work a lot, especially on upper body strength. What sort of training program will he have?
Jack has done a physical test in the C.A.R (Centro de Alto Rendimiento / High Performance Centre) in Barcelona, where he will be subjected to various physical exercises. His results were interesting. He is in better shape than he thought he was. He is doing motocross three or four times a week, which has helped a lot to develop his muscles, his strength and, above all, the strength of his arms. It is very important to be able to prevent cramps, which tend to be one of the first symptoms young riders suffer when they first step up to the premier class. He will continue to work specifically on his neck muscles and triceps, which are particularly important for riding a MotoGP bike. For the moment everything is under control and we are sure that he will arrive at the first race in perfect shape.

At the first test, in Valencia, the Australian was unable to use the new 2015 customer Honda bike, the RC213V-RS. However, that has broken cover at Sepang this week…
Yes, we have now started testing with the 2015 Open Honda. Jack has realised that it is much more powerful than the 2014 bike he rode in Valencia; he particularly likes the power, the top speed and the smoother, more controlled power delivery. This bike is the ‘continuation’ of the 2014 factory machine, but with the chassis having been adapted to accommodate the higher capacity fuel tank (as per the Open regulations) and with the spec Magneti Marelli ECU software. And that is precisely the point: we are trying to work out exactly how that software works on the RCV.

LCR is now running two different bikes and therefore two different technical teams. How are you managing this and dividing up the structure?
Basically, the group that previously worked with Stefan Bradl will now be working with Cal Crutchlow; there has been no change in the technical staff regarding the management of the Factory Option bike. The staff working on Miller’s side of the garage will be headed up by Cristian Gabarrini; it was us who introduced him to the World Championship, when he worked alongside Casey Stoner in the 125 class in 2003. Since then he has been to Ducati and then back to Honda, always working alongside Stoner. The other technicians working with Miller are all part of HRC and all first class guys.

Are you able to outline the contractual circumstances of both riders?

As a team we have a contract that binds us to HRC on a year-by-year basis. We hope to be able to keep renewing that, as we have been doing since we entered the premier class in 2006. In turn, Jack (Miller) has a contract with HRC for the next three years. We hope to be working with Jack in 2016 and 2017 as well. Cal (Crutchlow) has a two-year contract which includes clauses for termination, should either party not be satisfied with results. But from both points of view there are great expectations. If we are able to continue the project - which became a reality thanks to the input of our new title sponsor CWM - with both of the riders, I think Cal would also stay with us for 2016 and beyond.

How was the first day of testing at Sepang and what are you looking to try out with Miller over the coming days?

Firstly, we’re looking for an initial injection of confidence for Jack. We are not naïve enough to believe that a rookie from Moto3 is immediately going to be producing unbelievable lap times. The objective of this test is to gain confidence with what will be Jack’s race bike for the season ahead. It is especially important for him to understand how the bike reacts with the different regulations. We have elected to begin these tests without too many electronic aids in place. We want him to understand that the electronics will be a help which he is going to receive in the future, but only once he has first fought to the extreme with the bike itself. Once he has adapted his style and body to the bike and finds the natural limit with it, we will then give him more electronics in small doses. But first he needs to understand how the bike behaves and get to grips with taming the beast!

Miller back on track at Sepang

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