In near perfect conditions Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller has qualified 12th fastest for Sunday’s final race of the season in Valencia.

Boosted by his impressive pace in free practice Miller is targeting a top ten finish in the 30-lap race. The Australian was ninth on the timesheets in FP3, just 0.7s off the pace of Honda factory rider Marc Márquez.

Miller was unfazed by a harmless tumble that saw an early end to his Q2 session when he crashed at the final turn while on target for his best lap of the session.

Miller is expected to start the 30-lap race from position 11, moving up one position because Pol Espargaro must start from pit lane.

Miller’s teammate Tito Rabat was all smiles after qualifying 14th despite also ending the session with crash at turn six. The determined Spaniard is motivated for a strong finish to the season after a stunning surge to post the fourth fastest time in race trim in the FP4 session.

Rabat carried this form into Q1 and missed out by just 0.05s on joining Miller in the top 12 shoot-out in Q1.

The Valencia race is the 18th and final round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship.

Jack Miller: 12th – 1’31.190
“It has been a positive weekend so far in terms of my race pace, even though I’ve had three harmless crashes, and being ninth fastest in FP3 was a boost for me. In qualifying I got held up on the first tyre and still did a ‘131.1 lap and feeling comfortable. I was on target for a better time in my second run when I missed a downshift into the final corner and got off line and that was it, session over. A shame to end like that but I’m feeling confident for the race and looking to get away with the lead group.”

Tito Rabat: 14th – 1’31.197
“I really enjoyed myself today especially when I was fourth fastest in FP4 on used tyres, which is a good platform for the race. In qualifying I set my time riding alone before I had a small crash at the end. I feel really comfortable at this circuit and now I need to focus on a good start. I think I have the potential to go for my best result of the season tomorrow.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“Jack had a very strong pace in free practice and then in qualifying he was pushing for a third row start, which looked to be on the cards after FP3. So it was pity he crashed after making it through to Q2 but he is looking good to challenge for a top ten finish in the race. Tito’s performance in race trim in FP4 shows he also has the potential for a good race result and he only just missed out on progressing through to Q1.”