Jack Miller missed Q2 and is preparing for a ‘tense’ Q1 battle.

The MotoGP Argentina weekend at Termas de Rio Hondo has already presented challenges for top riders, including Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller. While Bagnaia narrowly secured a spot in Q2 despite an ill-timed crash, Miller missed out and now faces a tense battle in Q1. The competition is heating up, and both riders have work to do to secure strong grid positions.

Pecco Bagnaia‘s Struggles Continue in Argentina

Pecco Bagnaia has not been in his best form since the beginning of the 2025 MotoGP season. After a challenging race in Thailand, where he barely made it out of Q1, he faced another difficult session in Argentina. His approach of gradual improvement over the race weekend has yielded mixed results. While he ultimately found some speed, it was a close call that could have jeopardized his qualifying performance.

Despite the struggles, Bagnaia expressed relief at securing a spot in Q2. “Things went well; I tried my best to stay in the top 10,” he shared with Sky Sports. “Unfortunately, in the morning, I still felt like I was in Thailand. I didn’t feel good on the brakes or while cornering. In the afternoon, we made a lot of changes, and things improved. It was surprising to regain that confidence in braking.”

Bagnaia’s Performance Compared to Marc Marquez

Bagnaia’s Ducati teammate, Marc Marquez, displayed much stronger performance throughout the practice sessions. The Spanish rider seemed more comfortable on the track, setting consistently fast lap times. The contrast in their performances raises concerns about Bagnaia’s adaptability to different track conditions. While Marquez is proving to be a strong contender early in the season, Bagnaia appears to be struggling with setup issues and confidence on the bike.

Jack Miller Faces a Tough Q1 Battle

Jack Miller is preparing for a fierce fight to escape Q1 after missing direct entry into Q2. The Pramac Yamaha rider had a promising start in FP1, securing seventh place. However, his struggles in the final sprint session saw him drop to 14th, missing Q2 by a significant margin. Although he was only 0.763 seconds behind Marc Marquez, the competitiveness of the MotoGP field meant that he fell short of the cutoff.

Miller reflected on his session, explaining, “I feel good about race pace, and in the afternoon, I started working with the soft tire, using the first one to find the best setup and then two more to increase speed. I thought I did well, running in the 1’38s after 10 laps. When I made my first attack, the grip was incredible, and I thought, ‘Wow, there’s some grip here!'”

However, switching to a second soft tire didn’t yield further improvements, leaving Miller outside the top 10. “Yes, we missed Q2 this time, but we have FP4 tomorrow to fix the bike and try to get through Q1,” he said.

A High-Stakes Saturday Morning for Miller

Miller now faces a stressful Saturday morning session, where he must finish in the top two in Q1 to secure a spot in Q2. The competition will be fierce, with riders like Franco Morbidelli also fighting for a place in the final qualifying round.

“With guys like Morbidelli, it’s going to be really tense, but I feel we are close,” Miller admitted. “We are heading in the right direction. This bike isn’t too different from the others, and we are working hard to understand what works best for the YZR-M1.”

Technical Adjustments and Their Impact

One of the critical factors influencing both Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller‘s struggles in Argentina has been their difficulty in finding the right bike setup. Ducati engineers worked intensively to fine-tune Bagnaia’s Desmosedici GP, making multiple adjustments between sessions, focusing on braking stability and corner entry.

For Miller, Yamaha‘s engineers are working to optimize his setup to extract the best possible performance. His team will use FP4 to make the necessary changes before the crucial Q1 session.

The Importance of a Strong Qualifying Performance

For both riders, securing a good grid position in qualifying will be essential for their chances in the Argentina Grand Prix. Given the competitiveness of the MotoGP field, starting outside the front two rows could make it extremely difficult to fight for a podium finish.

Bagnaia has the advantage of being in Q2 already, but he still needs to find more speed to challenge the front runners. Meanwhile, Miller must deliver a flawless Q1 performance to have any chance of fighting for a strong result in the race.

Can Bagnaia and Miller Bounce Back?

Despite their early struggles, both Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller have shown resilience in the past. Bagnaia is known for his ability to recover from difficult situations and deliver strong performances when it matters most. Similarly, Miller has a history of rising to the occasion in high-pressure situations.

With Ducati and Yamaha’s support, both riders still have a chance to fight for strong results in Argentina. However, they must find more speed and confidence to challenge the likes of Marc Marquez and the other top contenders.

Final Thoughts

The first day at MotoGP Argentina has already provided plenty of drama, with both Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller facing major challenges. While Bagnaia narrowly secured Q2 entry, Miller is gearing up for a tense Q1 battle. As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on them to see if they can recover and fight for top finishes in the Grand Prix.

MotoGP fans can expect an exciting battle ahead, with both riders determined to prove their capabilities and regain their best form. The upcoming qualifying sessions will be a crucial test, and only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion and challenge for victory.