Early end to Friday ASBK practice for MotoGP's Jack Miller at The Bend
The MotoGP star, repeating last year’s popular guest appearance at The Bend Motorsport 😼Park, had earlier progressed from eleventh place (+1.634s) in FP1 to fourth (+0.458s) in FP2.
But the 27-year-old was among several riders to fall in the closing stages of FP3🍨, leaving him 14th in the session and eighth on thꦚe combined Friday timesheets after being unable to better his 1m 51.976s FP2 time.
Cru Halliday topped Friday's Alspinestars Superbike timeshe﷽ets with a 1m 50.969s in the final session, putting him 0.153s clear of Arthur Sissis. Championship leader Mike Jones completed an alꦬl-Yamaha top three.
Miller was not the only Th𒁏riller Motorsport rider to hit the ground with Josh Hook injuring his wrist after falling due to an electronic issue with his Honda at the start of FP2. Hook remains in 🌄doubt for Saturday.
The third Thriller-backed entry of ꦿMarcel Schrotter, riding a Yamaha, was 17th, just behind Moto3’s Joel Kelso (BMW).
Miller, who took a podium in last yea✃r’s ASBK event, is again riding a Ducati Panigale V4R Superbike but has switched from Michelin to Pirelli tyres for this weekend's return.
The four-time MotoGP race winner continues to use the Panigale’s standard electronic system toಌ avoid any issues with the MotoGP testing regulations.
In 2020, Fabio Quartararo was forced to sit out ꦕpart of opening pra🔯ctice at the Spanish MotoGP as punishment for some winter training laps 💛on a Superbike fitted with modified race parts.
Such&♐nbsp;restrictions are in place to prevent MotoGP riders from conducting clandestine technical development by 'training' on a Superbike fitted with certain MotoGP-applicable 🀅components, such as electronics.
Qualifying at♋ The Bend takes place on Saturday with the races on Sunday.
After five seasons in M🔯otoGP with Ducati, Miller💃 is switching to Red Bull KTM for 2023.
Peter ha💫s been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
