Aussie Jack Miller has survived an horrific crash in FP4 at the French MotoGP round.
After setting the fastest time in FP1, Miller was on a mission and saved a near fall from his Honda RC213V on the exit of the ultra-fast turn 1-2 right hander, but speared off the track at high speed and into the tyre barrier.
“It was a nasty crash and I’m lucky to walk away with just some bruises,” said Miller. “I had some locking on the front through turn one which sent me towards the wall and when I saw I wasn’t going to stop in time I let go before I hit the wall.”
Miller returned to the track for Q2 despite having a football-size swelling on his right knee and bruised right hand, and qualified 11th for the race.
Team manager Michael Bartholemy added: “After the crash in FP4 I wasn’t sure that Jack would be able to get back on the bike for qualifying. But after a medical check he went out showed how tough he is and how much he wanted to be on the grid. I know he is disappointed to be 11th on the fourth row but I am happy for this result after his big crash.”
Jorge Lorenzo has suggested the crash was a “warning from God” after the pair had a nasty exchange of word during a MotoGP safety commission meeting on Friday evening.