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Jack Miller has hit out at a number of his MotoGP rivals, including Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi, calling for them to be penalised for riding slowly on the racing line towards the end of today’s second practice for the Italian Grand Prix.
The pair of multiple-time MotoGP champions were among a large group of riders that Miller says were cruising at the end of the session, presenting a hazard to him and others.
Riding slowly on the racing line is something that has been a persistent battleground for the FIM MotoGP stewards in the Moto3 class in recent seasons, but with no specific regulations written into the rulebook and instructions issued to teams instead, the sanctions have not been universally applied across all three classes.
But the Australian says that it’s time for that to end after what he witnessed on track today, as he hit out at some of the most experienced racers in MotoGP.
“I felt like I probably had another decent lap in me,” he said after the session, “but I found a whole heap of ‘Moto3 riders’ sitting out there like clowns.
“I think we’re meant to be the guys setting the example, but when you’ve got a bunch of guys riding at Turn 1 like this it doesn’t look good, and I ended up just pulling into pitlane.
“One of them is an eight-time world champion [Marquez], and that’s really not setting a great example for the kids. I feel like we shouldn’t have to punish riders by the time they reach MotoGP, because like I say we’re the ones setting the example.
“That you have at least eight guys sitting waiting; two factory Honda [Marquez and Pol Espargaro], a Petronas Yamaha with nine world championships [Rossi], his brother [Luca Marini].
“There were so many guys sitting waiting, and in the end there’s no need for it. The slipstream doesn’t make a difference and we don’t need it – they’re just looking for a tow.
“That’s all anyone’s looking for and it’s ridiculous – if you can’t do the laptime, then don’t do it.
“I understand when it’s one or two, but a group of eight shouldn’t be on and we should set an example, punish and show that it’s not on in MotoGP as well.”
Fellow 2021 race winner Fabio Quartararo seemed to come up on the group in question a few moments after Miller, in the Scarperia and Palagio corners, and afterwards concurred with the Australian.
“I set a time at the end, but honestly I don’t know how,” he admitted, having finished the day in fourth place. “There were riders in every sector, and I was overtaking riders all lap.
“This is a fast track, we’re doing so fast, and it’s only FP2 with many people already waiting. It’s pointless, but it is what it is. I hope that it ends soon. If it’s qualifying I understand, but not now.
“For me what the guys do in Moto3 and Moto2 where they have to start from the pitlane when they stop on track – why not the same for us? We are all racing in the world championship, and, yes, it’s a different category but we’re riding faster than them and it’s more dangerous.”
