Is 18-year-old rising Moto3 star Jack Miller our shining hope for MotoGP glory?

AUSTRALIA might not have a top rider in MotoGP at the moment, but keep your eye on a wild young kid called Jack Miller.

Miller quickly got comfortable with his new machine.

AUSTRALIA might not have a top rider in MotoGP at the moment, but keep your eye on a young kid from Townsville called Jack Miller.

After two long, hard years of slogging it out in Moto3 on an inferior machine, Miller took his first laps aboard a factory-backed KTM overnight at Valencia in Spain.

The result? The 18-year-old topped the timesheets by half a second.

Miller was full of praise for the bike and his new Red Bull KTM Ajo team, who only just missed out on winning this year's Moto3 title with Luis Salom.

Miller (R) with teammates Hannika (L) and Danny Webb.

"It was a good first day of testing," he said. "We've made some great changes and put in many laps, and in the end we found a good first setup.

"We will have to keep working on it, because it is clear that today is only the first day with this bike. I feel very comfortable with the KTM, both with the engine and the chassis."

The Australian has survived two crash-strewn seasons in Moto3, breaking his collarbones several times as he tried to drag his underpowered Honda up to the KTM's pace.

Now he's aboard one himself, Miller is considered to be one of the prime contenders for the 2014 title.

The first step towards a title tilt - adjusting to his new machine - went smoothly.

get to ride the new motorcycle tomorrow getting really keen now #cantsleep @DannyKent52

— Jack peter miller (@jackmilleraus) November 13, 2013

"I expected it to be more difficult to adapt, but the truth is that it went pretty well. We have to keep working, but I'm happy with how everything is going so far."

Miller will have a fight on his hands to claim the crown, however, with Honda set to unleash a brand-new Moto3 bike in a major assault on the third-tier title.

He will also have plenty of competition from within his own team next season with Red Bull Rookies Cup graduate Karel Hannika impressing in his first day on a Moto3 bike, finishing the day second behind Miller.

Fellow Australian Arthur Sissis ended his first day aboard a Mahindra machine 1.5s off Miller's pace, hoping for a resurgence in form as he too looks to push his MotoGP credentials.

But with no signs of a Casey Stoner comeback any time soon, it looks to be Miller's shoulders upon which Australia's proud MotoGP fortunes rest.

Miller quickly got comfortable with his new machine.