Jack Miller wins Valencia Moto3 race but Alex Marquez wins world championship
JACK Miller did everything in his power to win the Moto3 championship, but he came up short of Alex Marquez by just two points.
AUSTRALIA’S Jack Miller has been beaten to the Moto3 world championship by Alex Marquez, despite victory in the Valencia Grand Prix.
The Townsville-born rider did everything in his power to bring the title his way, coming out on top of a fierce battle among the lead group to take his sixth win of the season ahead of Isaac Vinales.
However, Marquez’s third-place finish was enough to give the Spaniard his maiden world championship by just two points, his tally of 278 edging out Miller’s 276.
A bitterly disappointed Miller was left to take some consolation from putting in what he believes was the “best race of his life.”
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“I did what I could,” the 19-year-old said. “We tried our hardest but in the end it was not enough.
“We can be happy with the most victories this season and we finish on a victory so a big thank you to the Red Bull team, they helped me so much this year and I can’t thank them enough.”
With Miller needing to win the race and have Marquez finish off the podium, he rode a canny race in trying to ensure other riders were able to get involved in the race for the podium positions.
Initially, he shot into the lead from the start and tried to build a gap and break away from the field.
When that ploy failed, he slowed the leading group of four riders, including Marquez, Vinales and pole man Niccolo Antonelli, to allow the next pack to catch them and start scrapping with the title contenders.
On two occasions the pack swallowed Miller up and spat him out — and both times he fought his way back to the front.
Marquez’s teammate Alex Rins — a good friend of Miller’s off the track — shoved the Australian wide on Lap 16, sending him back to fifth place and allowing Vinales to build a sizeable lead.
Within the blink of an eye, Miller was back into second. He had immediately shoved his way back past Rins and Danny Kent at the following corner, before rounding up Marquez and setting about chasing down Vinales.
Just as he regained the lead with five laps to go, the second attack came. This time Miller found himself squeezed back down to seventh, briefly making contact with Marquez as a charging Kent forced them both wide.
Miller showed how badly he wanted to win the race by making a string of decisive passes as he carved his way to the front, but he was being shadowed all the way by Marquez.
He again ran down Vinales heading into the final lap, fulfilling his side of the equation by holding the Spaniard off to win the race, but could only watch on as Marquez crossed the line in third to clinch the championship.
The pair briefly shook hands ahead of the podium ceremony, the image of the despondent Miller jarring with that of his overjoyed rival.
Marquez joins older brother and MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez and their good friend and Moto2 champion Esteve Rabat as the winners of the three motorcycling classes for 2014.
“It’s incredible. I thought it would be the race of my life and it was,” said Marquez.
“I felt good throughout the race. I felt comfortable. I am so happy and I just want to thank everyone who has supported me through every moment.”
TOP 15 RESULTS — Valencia Moto3 (24 laps)
1. (8) Jack Miller (KTM) 40m10.983s
2. (32) Isaac Vinales (KTM) 0.155s
3. (12) Alex Marquez (Honda) 0.955s
4. (52) Danny Kent (Husqvarna) 1.572s
5. (42) Alex Rins (Honda) 2.251s
6. (7) Efren Vazquez (Honda) 2.508s
7. (23) Niccolo Antonelli (KTM) 3.620s
8. (44) Miguel Oliveira (Mahindra) 4.216s
9. (41) Brad Binder (Mahindra) 4.248s
10. (98) Karel Hanika (KTM) 4.363s
11. (33) Enea Bastianini (KTM) 5.462s
12. (10) Alexis Masbou (Honda) 5.780s
13. (84) Jakub Kornfeil (KTM) 5.959s
14. (5) Romano Fenati (KTM) 6.209s
15. (58) Juanfran Guevara (Kalex KTM) 6.726s
Originally published as Jack Miller wins Valencia Moto3 race but Alex Marquez wins world championship
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