Not Afraid of Change if It Means Winning

Sliding out of his racing boots on the podium, the next thing Jack Miller did was pour champagne into one. After finishing the race, the inside of the boot is soaked in sweat, obviously. Lifting the alcohol-full boot in the air like a chalice and tipping it back, he drank the entire contents, prompting a mix of cheers and gasps from the crowd.

This ritual is known as a "shoey" and is often performed by Australian racing riders and drivers on the podium. It's a little rude, but that's what makes it so human. It conveys an immense joy to the audience, like it's time to let loose and party. That's why when Jack Miller stands on the podium, everyone is waiting to see a shoey.

MotoGP riders are a diverse bunch, but even among them, Miller stands out as a unique character. His "Miller Taxi" service, where he picks up riders whose bikes have stopped on the slowdown lap and gives them a ride back to the pits on the back of his own bike, has become so established that even his rivals want to hitch a ride. Also popular are his real-time interactions with fans via the circuit monitors. He has an unconventional cheerfulness that has been turned into internet memes, poking fun in a loving way. With four MotoGP wins, 23 podium finishes, and a bright personality to match, he charms and attracts many.

In early July, when Miller arrived at Suzuka Circuit in the Yamaha Racing Team's pit box for the private test, he was surprisingly calm and his riding was steady.

The times he put up on the monitor were impressively consistent. Although the pace with which he brought the lap times down was slow, he steadily improved. There was no sign of pride, or of the raw fighting spirit of a MotoGP rider. What stood out was his cautious approach. Miller is serious about winning the 8 Hours.

"It was my first time riding an EWC-spec YZF-R1, and my first time riding at Suzuka since the 8 Hours in 2017. I also had to switch from the Michelin tires we use in MotoGP to the Bridgestones, so there was a lot to learn. Plus, the 8 Hours is a completely different kind of race from MotoGP where I usually ride. I had to adapt to a lot of different things. About the R1, I tried some different settings," said the 30-year-old Australian.

"And not just that..." he says with a grin, about to share something.

"You might not believe it, but I try to stay as calm as possible in the box. I'm trying to be more clear and accurate. That's probably different from what people imagine."

Miller's team manager, Wataru Yoshikawa, explains. "Jack has a pretty tough job. To ride the R1 well, he has to change his riding style from the YZR-M1 he usually rides in MotoGP."

According to Yoshikawa, the YZR-M1 is a machine where riders need to make strong brake inputs, turn in quickly, and open the throttle wide. As befits a MotoGP machine, it demands an aggressive riding style.

The YZF-R1, on the other hand, suits a smooth, precise, and efficient riding style. The two machines have opposite characters, and riders have to adapt their mindset and riding style to suit each.

Even though we say "opposites," we are talking about slight differences at an extremely high level. There is not as much difference as one might imagine from the two extremes of "aggressive" and "smooth." To the average rider, both the YZR-M1 and YZF-R1 are extremely hard to ride, and the boundary between aggressive and smooth is so subtle that most would find it difficult to discern.

However, that slight difference is one that the top riders cannot afford to overlook. They are well aware that if small differences pile up, it can lead to a big difference; between winning and losing. That is why Miller is approaching the 8 Hours test with caution, striving to gain a more detailed understanding.

That being said, Miller was certainly enjoying riding the YZF-R1.

"I'm upping my pace bit by bit, but the more I ride it, the easier it gets. I always have a smile on my face under my helmet when I'm riding the R1!"

The longer he spent at the test, the more he began to show his natural cheerfulness in the pit box as well. While the pit crew was practicing their pit work, he lightly slapped them on the butt saying "Hey, what are you doing?!" and they laughed, acting surprised. The tension in the air before the practice session was instantly relieved.

"Even now, I still enjoy riding motorcycles so much," says Miller.

"It's hard for me to explain why. Since I was a kid, I rode motorcycles every day. It was the only thing I was good at and could concentrate on. Riding a motorcycle is like going to a happy place. When I ride a bike, I can forget everything and just think about the bike."

"I love the thrill of the fight. And I hate losing (laughs). You never know what will happen in a race. Dealing with those situations where you don't know what's going to happen, that's the fun part."

The 8 Hours is a race where teams and riders have to respond to unpredictable situations from the start at 11:30 a.m. until the finish at 7:30 p.m. That's why Miller is so excited.

"In the test we did race simulations and I rode individual stints. I can't even remember how many I rode? (laughs) It just reminded me how much of a physical race this is. But I love testing my physical and mental limits, so I'm actually really looking forward to it."

The last time Miller competed in an 8 Hours was in 2017. He finished 4th, just missing out on the podium. He was 22 years old at the time. Now, he is 30 and is a father, too.

「"A lot of things have changed, but some things haven't. One of those is my feeling about the 8 Hours. Since I the time I finished 4th in 2017, I've always felt like I wanted to be on the podium in the 8 Hours. This year when I made my contract with Yamaha, the first thing I asked was whether I could ride in the 8 Hours, seriously!

For Jack "Papa" Miller, there will be one more added bonus at the 8 Hours.

"They didn't come for the test, but for the race I'm bringing my family along. My daughter is excited to play in the amusement park at the track! (laughs)"

To close the interview, he had some strong--but cheerful--words.

"In 2022 at Motegi I did a shoey when I won the race. I want to do one at Suzuka, too. That means we have to win the 8 Hours."