Here's the thing about racing at home: it takes everything you have, and sometimes, it gives it right back. As Speedcafe reports, this weekend's Grand Prix of Australia marks the final home MotoGP appearance for Miller, who is set to depart MotoGP at the end of 2026 to join the WorldSBK grid with Yamaha. Following practice on Friday, the paddock gathered at Milly Corner for a ceremony to unveil the #43 machine draped in a stunning green and gold livery. The bike features Miller's iconic number flanked by the words "Thank you, Phillip Island."
That kind of tribute hits hard. "Honestly, this journey probably should have ended about 15 years ago, and somehow we’ve been able to achieve so many amazing things, all of us together," Miller said during the ceremony. "I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you, so thank you." In a social media post, he admitted the emotional weight of the moment: "Not sure how I’m supposed to keep it together this weekend. A pretty bloody special surprise from the team with this livery for my final MotoGP race here at the Island. Honestly means the world to me."
I know where I could have been faster, so it‘s frustrating, but we have the pace to do better and we‘ll give it another go tomorrow.
The opening day on track was nothing short of chaotic. Miller put in his fastest time in the first practice session at Doohan Corner, only to crash shortly after. The drama continued immediately when the second practice opened, sending him tumbling into the gravel at Siberia once more. Despite the bumps and sore ankles, he managed to scramble back out and log a 12th fastest time in the second hit-out, missing the automatic berth into the second leg of qualifying by the narrowest of margins.
"It was an eventful day, that‘s for sure," Miller reflected after climbing out of the machine. "This morning, the feeling was pretty good from the start, although the track is bumpier than it was last year. I knew there were some tricky spots, but when I hit the bumps, the bike started moving around and I lost the front. I ended up tumbling through the gravel, and my ankles were a bit sore afterwards, but thankfully, I was able to get back out this afternoon."
With Aprilia and Ducati continuing to set the benchmark out front—though Ducati's hopes largely rest on its champion rider Marc Marquez—Miller finds himself facing an uphill battle through Q1. He remains convinced the speed is hidden in the machine somewhere, noting that his pace on his own and during time attacks showed genuine promise. "In the end, we missed out on the top 10, which means we‘ll have to go through Q1 tomorrow," he said. "I know where I could have been faster, so it‘s frustrating, but we have the pace to do better and we‘ll give it another go tomorrow."
Now, the paddock looks ahead to the crucial Saturday schedule at Phillip Island. Free Practice 2 gets underway at 10:10am AEDT, followed immediately by qualifying at 10:40am AEDT, before the Tissot Sprint kicks off at 3:00pm AEDT. And if the heavens open up? Miller will be hoping for rain come Saturday to finally unlock a shot at victory.
