Jack Miller to miss Sepang MotoGP Test
Tito Rabat ready to get the season underway in Sepang
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS head to Malaysia this weekend, to get their 2016 MotoGP campaign underway with a three-day test at the Sepang International Circuit.
Jack Miller will miss the first test in Malaysia after sustaining a fractured right tibia and fibula in a training accident less than two weeks ago.
The 21-year-old Australian had successful surgery to stabilise the injury and is already back training in a bid to be fit for the Phillip Island test on 17th February.
Miller’s absence means that Tito Rabat will be the sole Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider in Sepang. The former Moto2 World Champion started his familiarisation with the Honda RC213V and Michelin tyres during a two-day test at Valencia last year, but Sepang will be the first opportunity for Rabat to test the bike with the control ECU and unified software that is now mandatory in the premier class.
The Sepang test gets underway on Monday 1st February.
Tito Rabat
“I’m looking forward to getting back to work in Malaysia. The aim of the first test is simple; to get back the feeling with the bike and tyres after a break of more than two months since the Valencia test. Sepang is also another opportunity to continue improving the communication and the way I work with my new crew after such a good start in Valencia. If I can improve my feeling and my confidence with the bike with each exit in Sepang then I will leave the first test of 2016 satisfied. I’m facing a steep learning curve this season, so I need to take profit from all nine days of testing before racing gets underway in Qatar.”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“We know from working with him in Moto2 that Tito has a very controlled and methodical approach to testing and I think that will serve him well as he continues his transition to MotoGP. We’re not looking for a massive jump in performance from Tito in Sepang, but rather a steady improvement as he starts to understand the capabilities of the bike and the tyres better. He has a lot to take in, as Sepang will be the first time he tests the bike with the control ECU and the unified software, but I’m confident that he will take it in his stride. It’s unfortunate that Jack is unable to test in Sepang but we are hopeful that he will have recovered sufficiently to join us at Phillip Island for the second of the three preseason tests.”
