VOL. 51 ISSUE 39 SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 P87
of my stand I wouldn't have been able to
shut up on the car ride home for sure,
talking about it. This sport is for the fans.
Without them we're nothing. We don't
get paid. That's how it works."
Miller is also well versed in the history
of the sport. So his heroes come from
what many see as the golden era of the
sport – the mid-'80s to early '90s.
"I really like the early days. Like [Wayne]
Rainey, [Kevin] Schwantz, [Mick] Doo-
han, [Wayne] Gardiner… those guys are
to me my heroes," Miller said. "Back in
the mid-'80s to early '90s… those guys
who really turned the sport in the right
direction and got it to where it was today
for sure. Without those guys, road racing
wouldn't be as popular as it is today for
sure. When you look at those guys, they
were cool, relaxed, chilled out sort of
guys. I've been so fortunate to be able to
meet most of them. It's incredible. They
are definitely the guys I look up to… that
old school get in and get it done sort of
guys, hang the thing sideways and stuff
like that. That's what I try to look up to."
And with his straight forward say what
he thinks and no-holds-barred attitude
on the racetrack he's definitely a bit old
school for his young years. Obviously
he's doing well for himself in this era, but
he would've have felt right at home in the
yesteryears.
"For me the era I would've liked to
have been in was Barry Sheene's era;
you know smoke a cigarette on the grid
and just relax," Miller said. "That's sort of
the really cool and calm environment…
that's what I really like. The mid-'70s for
sure would've been the best years to be
in racing for sure. But we're here and
we're getting it done in 2014. I'm super
happy to be here and hopefully I can
leave my mark on the sport." CN
Miller's foray into goon riding during post-race celebrations has
earned him the affectionate nickname from fans.
The 19-year old from Queensland understands
the value of fans to the sport.
Miller has a chat with crew chief Patrick Unger.
