Australian MotoGP ace Jack Miller is banking on the momentum of his best season in the premier class to help carry him to a podium finish at Phillip Island.
The Queenslander has three third-place finishes in an impressive season that sees him eighth in the world championship standings with a career-best 125 points heading into the Australian MotoGP.
Miller is also second in the independent riders classification, behind recently-crowned rookie of the year, French sensation Fabio Quartararo.
His confidence on the Pramac Racing Ducati received a further boost last week in Motegi, Japan, where he was fighting for the lead before a tyre issue forced him down the order to tenth.
“It was a shame but we had good pace there so I’m looking forward to a good weekend here at home where I’m normally pretty strong,” Miller said.
“With the form we’ve had this year I think we have a good chance of taking it up to the top guys.
“We’ll give it a go, it’s a place I love to come and ride at. I think it’s one of the best tracks on the calendar and fortunately enough for me it’s my home grand prix as well.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there. The weather’s not going to be ideal but there’s no point looking at the weather forecast here because if the wind changes we’ll have beautiful sunshine or it could be freezing cold.”
Miller has jumped out to early leads in his past two home races before falling to seventh on both occasions – his best finish at the famed island circuit.
The 24-year-old’s three podiums this season – in Austin, the Czech Republic and Aragon – and his efforts to regularly qualify on the first two rows of the grid have earned him a contract extension for 2020.
“It’s been a real boost for my confidence, I think next year I’ll just be stronger again,” Miller said.
“A few podiums have definitely helped our confidence grow as a team and I feel like I’m maturing as a rider as well.”
Spanish superstar Marc Marquez has already wrapped up this year’s world championship, claiming his eighth world title with a win on his Repsol Honda in Thailand.
JACK MILLER’S 2019 MOTOGP SEASON AT A GLANCE:
* Age: 24
* Team: Pramac Racing Ducati
* World championship: 8th (125 points)
* Best result: 3rd (R3 – GP of the Americas, R10 – Czech Republic, R14 – Aragon)
* Best qualifying: 2nd (R10 – Czech Republic)
* DNF: 4 (R1 – Qatar, R4 – Jerez, R6 – Mugello, R11 – Austria)