Jack Miller came close to hitting Pecco Bagnaia during Friday’s final qualifying-style runs at Motegi, adding another dramatic moment to a difficult day for the Pramac Yamaha rider. Miller had first benefited from Bagnaia’s slipstream on a soft rear tyre, then tried to position himself behind the former factory Ducati team-mate again for a second attempt.

The situation developed at Turn 11. Bagnaia went slightly deep and began returning towards the racing line just as Miller was releasing the brake. Their trajectories narrowed, and Miller tried to ask more from the front tyre to avoid the Ducati. The front then slid as he steered away. When it suddenly regained grip, the Yamaha reacted sharply enough for Miller to hit himself in the face. His lap was effectively finished, and the additional effort that followed did not change his 18th-place classification.

The near miss was not Miller’s only notable incident in Friday Practice. He also had a two-rider stoppie with Alex Rins, while much of the session was used to assess a Yamaha engine map designed to alter throttle progression. Miller persevered with the setting through the morning and the first exit of the afternoon, but returned to the previous map after the red flag. That change helped him recover his rhythm, and he used the next three runs to make the motorcycle’s behaviour more manageable.

Braking remains a Yamaha priority

Miller believes there is still time to gain under braking, particularly in the corners where the Yamaha needs to stop more effectively. He described substantial rear movement as the motorcycle is turned into right-handers, especially on corner entry and at the first touch of maximum lean. Finding the right engine-brake setting is also proving difficult at Motegi, whether the cause is connected to the circuit’s new asphalt or not. Even so, Miller sees further potential if the team can improve the bike’s stopping performance.

The new surface is also shaping the tyre decision for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Miller considers the soft rear a genuine option because it is currently delivering better performance than the medium, while wear appears similar between the two. He expects the key variables to be slip control and temperature management: if the soft tyre can be kept from overheating, its additional performance may remain useful over race distance.

Michelin is likewise keeping both the soft and medium rear tyres in consideration for the Grand Prix. Saturday’s Sprint will provide a longer-distance reference for their performance and durability before the final choice is made. In Friday’s classification, Fabio Quartararo was the leading Yamaha rider in seventh, ahead of Miller. Alex Rins ended the session 20th, while Miller’s Pramac team-mate Toprak Razgatlioglu was 21st.