Jack Miller claims long-awaited pole position at San Marino MotoGP

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Jack Miller
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Jack Miller will start at the front of a MotoGP grid for the first time in four years. 

The Australian rider claimed pole position following qualifying in San Marino, edging Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia.

It is the 27-year-old's second career pole, last achieving the feat in Argentina in 2018.

In a wet qualifying session at the Misano World Circuit, Miller set a time of one minute and 31.899 seconds on his eighth lap, just 0.015 seconds faster than Bagnaia.

Despite topping the times, the Ducati pair will not be 1-2 for Sunday's race, with the Italian to serve a three-place grid penalty he received during practice on Friday.

Miller has now become the eighth different pole-sitter of the 2022 MotoGP season and will be aiming to notch his fourth career race win.

The Townsville-born rider's most recent victory came in last year's French GP, starting from third on the grid to finish P1. 

"We’ll just take the race how it comes," Miller said post-qualifying.

"The weather is a big question mark and the forecast isn’t brilliant.

"But I feel good and we’ve been getting stronger week-in-week-out."

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However, despite the likely rain, Miller believes he can score another win with Ducati before his move to KTM in 2023.

"I think we have a good chance," he said.

"I’m in good form at the moment and the bike is working extremely well at the moment."

Miller currently sits in fifth on the rider standings, amassing five podiums so far this year. 

He is only two points behind fourth-placed Johann Zarco, who will begin Sunday's race from sixth spot on the grid.

Author(s)
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Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.