Austin MotoGP: Miller sets blistering FP3 lap, six tenths clear of Nakagami

A stunning final lap from Jack Miller during MotoGP FP3 at COTA puts him fastest by over six tenths from Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami.
Jack Miller, MotoGP, Grand Prix of the Americas, 1 October 2021
Jack Miller, MotoGP, Grand Prix of the Americas, 1 October 2021
© Gold and Goose

After finishing second to Marc Marq🌃uez on day one, Jack Miller utterly dominated MotoGP FP3 at COTA. 

Before the action got un𒁏derway&ꦏnbsp;there was a slight chance of rain impacting FP3, but MotoGP riders were instead greeted by a dry COTA circuit to begin qualifying day in Austin, Texas. 

During the early part oꦚf FP3, lap times were some eight tenths away from the fastest combined time of FP2 set by Marc Marquez. 

Marquez was again the ea💟rly pace setter just as he was during both Friday sessions, while fellow Honda rider Takaaki Nak🅘agami was under a tenth down in P2. 

With just under 15 minutes gone, Nakagam💮i managed to reduce that gap as he went to the top with a 2:04.616s - six tenths off of Marquez’s leading time. 

Joan Mir then split the two Honda riders to﷽ go second which was enough to move him into tenth overall. 

With half the session gone Nakagami once again went quickest🧜, but this time it was enough to lead the way on combined times court🤪esy of a 2:03.739s. 

Team-mate Alex Marquez was someway off Nakagami’s pace and instead suffered a slow crash✅ at turn one a few moments later. 

Miguel Oliveira soon followed Nakagami in starting his first time attack run, a run that saw him move inside the top six with P6. The Portuguese rider was eventually bumped out of the top ten by team-m💯ate Brad Binder.

Jack Miller, a firm 🦂favourite heading into qualifying, became the third different rider to go fastest in this session with 13 minutes left. 

Improvements also came from Monster Energy Yamaha team-mates Fabio Quarararo and Franco Morbidelli, while Alex Rins, winner the last time MotoGP ra♏ce at COTA also jumped up the order for Suzuki. 

Yellow flags were brought out wit🥃h five minutes remaining as Aleix Espargaro suffer💦ed a second crash this weekend - turn 12.

At the front, Marquez threatened to displace Miller late on, before🎉 the Australian set the💎 first and only sub 2m 03s time so far this weekend, a lap that was a stunning six tenths quicker than Nakagami in second. Luca Marini became the third faller late on at turn two.

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