Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Jack Miller and Tito Rabat continued to make important progress on the second night of practice for the opening round of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship in Qatar.

Australian Miller took advantage of improved grip levels and a revised riding position to lap 0.7s faster than his previous best time in tonight’s FP3 at the Losail International Circuit.

Miller was satisfied with the performance gains despite a late crash at turn 9 when he ran slightly off line before losing the front-end of his Honda RC213v machine. Miller was unhurt in the spill and he ended 17th overall with an encouraging best time of 1.56.207.

Former Moto2 World Champion Tito Rabat made big strides in his quest to improve front-end feeling after working closely with crew chief Chris Pike to find a more confidence-inspiring machine setting. The Spaniard's hard work was instantly rewarded with a lap of 1.56.625 in FP3 knocking an impressive 0.8s off his benchmark time from earlier in the evening. He finished tonight’s action one place behind Miller in 18th.

Jack Miller: 17th - 1’56.207

“We made some improvements today and I am happy about that. Overall it was a positive day but I made a mistake at the end of the session and had a small crash. It was my fault because I just got onto the dirty line and lost the front. Each time I go out I am getting more comfortable on the bike and I found something with my riding position that helped me used the rear brake more in FP3. We’ll keep working at it to try and close the gap to the guys in front of me.”

Tito Rabat: 18th - 1’56.625


“I am satisfied because we made a really big step with my confidence on the bike and that was one of our main goals for the two sessions today. We made some changes for the first session that didn’t really work but more modifications for FP3 were much better and I had much more trust with the front tyre. We are making small steps but it is important to being moving forward and that’s what we’ve done. The important thing for me is to try and reduce the gap to the front guys and that’s what I am doing. It is still too far but MotoGP is a very difficult class and we know I need time. All I can do is stay calm and keep my confidence to pushing always.”

Cristian Gabbarini: Jack Miller’s Chief Mechanic

“The mood is positive because Jack has been able to improve in every session and it looks like we have found a way to make him more comfortable with the front. I am convinced if we continue working in the same direction that he will be stronger tomorrow and he can have a positive race on Sunday night.”