Jack Miller believes Yamaha's closely fought battle for the final points-paying position at the Italian Grand Prix highlighted the determination within the manufacturer's MotoGP project, despite another difficult weekend at Mugello.
Yamaha struggled throughout the event, particularly on Mugello's long straights where the M1 lacked the top speed to challenge its rivals. The manufacturer left Italy with just a single championship point from the weekend's racing.
That point ultimately went to Miller after he was promoted to 15th place following a track-limits penalty handed to Pramac Yamaha teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Although the reward was modest, Miller said the battle among Yamaha riders remained fiercely competitive.
"It was as fun as fighting for one point is. If it was for the win, you would enjoy it a lot more," Miller said.
"Anyone would think we are fighting for the victory. It's bragging rights at the end of the day, but that's what we're there for."
The Australian believes those internal battles are important, not only for rider development but also for Yamaha's long-term progress.
Source: Autosport
According to Miller, pushing each other on track helps riders extract more from the package while providing valuable feedback that can accelerate development.
Mugello once again exposed some of Yamaha's key weaknesses. Alongside a lack of straight-line speed, riders struggled with the bike's turning ability, making it difficult to compete against Ducati, Aprilia and KTM on one of the fastest circuits on the calendar.
Despite those challenges, Miller remains encouraged by the direction Yamaha is taking. He revealed he has been using a revised chassis since Jerez and believes it provides better feedback and understanding of tyre behaviour, even if outright performance gains have yet to fully materialise.
The 31-year-old said Yamaha's focus is now on building performance around that package as the manufacturer continues its efforts to close the gap to the front of the field.
Miller's future remains uncertain amid growing speculation over next season's rider market, but the Australian remains focused on delivering results whenever possible.
While Mugello offered little in terms of championship rewards, Miller's comments reflected a team still fighting for every position and searching for the improvements needed to return Yamaha to regular contention at the front of MotoGP.
