COTA’s 1.2km back straight left the Yamaha V4 riders brutally exposed during the recent US MotoGP weekend.

Pramac’s Jack Miller said he felt like a “lamb to slaughter” after the Sprint race, where the Australian’s average top speed was 10km/h slower than Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi.

Miller took the chequered flag in 14th, as the second-best Yamaha behind Fabio Quartararo, but lost out to both KTM’s Brad Binder and VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli in the closing laps.

“It’s a working project. But we’re keeping our head down,” said Miller.

“I was trying to fight there in the race but every time we open it up… You’re like a lamb to slaughter a little bit. Getting the stickers peeled off you every time down the back straight.

“Brad had four goes before he got it right. And with Franky, I kind of messed up a little bit in the stadium section.

“We came out of the last corner together, but we had a yellow flag at turn one. So you’re kind of stuck following the leader and then once we open the taps [on the back straight], you can’t do anything about it.”

The Australian suggested some upgrades could arrive for the next round at Jerez.

“We’re working away at it and trying our best. Hopefully come Jerez we can be a little bit more competitive  and we’ll try to get better as the season progresses. It’s not through lack of trying.”

Miller left COTA, scene of a season-best fifth place in last year’s grand prix, still seeking his first points of the year after taking the chequered flag in 16th in the main race.

This time, he was at least stronger in the closing stages, passing Quartararo and finishing in the slipstream of team-mate Toprak Razgatlioglu.

“There are still some areas, especially in the DNA of the bike, that we need to keep working on and refining, but for now we‘re doing the best we can with what we have,” Miller said.

“The important thing is that we‘re starting to understand the bike better and build a clearer direction for the future.

“Now I‘m looking forward to getting back to Europe – having races closer together should help us keep the momentum, bring some updates, and continue developing in the right direction.”

After chronic rear grip issues in the previous rounds, Pramac team director Gino Borsoi was pleased by how both of his riders maintained their pace over the 20 laps.

However, all four Yamahas were left over 25-seconds from Grand Prix winner Bezzecchi.

“From the halfway point of the race both riders showed they had the pace to stay close to the top ten. That‘s an important indication for us,” Borsoi said.

“This is our starting point, and it‘s from here that we need to continue building. We know it won‘t be easy, but we‘ve already reduced the gap significantly compared to the first races.

“Now we have to keep our heads down, continue working, and bring the team and our riders closer to where they belong.”

COTA’s 1.2km back straight left the Yamaha V4 riders brutally exposed during the recent US MotoGP weekend.

Pramac’s Jack Miller said he felt like a “lamb to slaughter” after the Sprint race, where the Australian’s average top speed was 10km/h slower than Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi.

Miller took the chequered flag in 14th, as the second-best Yamaha behind Fabio Quartararo, but lost out to both KTM’s Brad Binder and VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli in the closing laps.

“It’s a working project. But we’re keeping our head down,” said Miller.

“I was trying to fight there in the race but every time we open it up… You’re like a lamb to slaughter a little bit. Getting the stickers peeled off you every time down the back straight.

“Brad had four goes before he got it right. And with Franky, I kind of messed up a little bit in the stadium section.

“We came out of the last corner together, but we had a yellow flag at turn one. So you’re kind of stuck following the leader and then once we open the taps [on the back straight], you can’t do anything about it.”

The Australian suggested some upgrades could arrive for the next round at Jerez.

“We’re working away at it and trying our best. Hopefully come Jerez we can be a little bit more competitive  and we’ll try to get better as the season progresses. It’s not through lack of trying.”

Miller left COTA, scene of a season-best fifth place in last year’s grand prix, still seeking his first points of the year after taking the chequered flag in 16th in the main race.

This time, he was at least stronger in the closing stages, passing Quartararo and finishing in the slipstream of team-mate Toprak Razgatlioglu.

“There are still some areas, especially in the DNA of the bike, that we need to keep working on and refining, but for now we‘re doing the best we can with what we have,” Miller said.

“The important thing is that we‘re starting to understand the bike better and build a clearer direction for the future.

“Now I‘m looking forward to getting back to Europe – having races closer together should help us keep the momentum, bring some updates, and continue developing in the right direction.”

After chronic rear grip issues in the previous rounds, Pramac team director Gino Borsoi was pleased by how both of his riders maintained their pace over the 20 laps.

However, all four Yamahas were left over 25-seconds from Grand Prix winner Bezzecchi.

“From the halfway point of the race both riders showed they had the pace to stay close to the top ten. That‘s an important indication for us,” Borsoi said.

“This is our starting point, and it‘s from here that we need to continue building. We know it won‘t be easy, but we‘ve already reduced the gap significantly compared to the first races.

“Now we have to keep our heads down, continue working, and bring the team and our riders closer to where they belong.”