Australian MotoGP 2022: Jack Miller crashes out at Phillip Island

Jack Miller has charmed fans and everyone he has met over the past week — and his classy response after his hopes of a home win were dashed explain why.

Jack Miller of Australia talks during a media call at Duckboard Place on October 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for AGPC)

It wasn’t meant to end like this.

Australian MotoGP star Jack Miller’s build-up for his return to Phillip Island had simply been a dream.

A win in Thailand, a wedding to long-time girlfriend Ruby Mau and then the renaming of Turn 4 at the track into Miller Corner – it had to be too good to be true.

Then at 2.13pm on Sunday, it all went cruelly, horribly wrong.

Such is the brutal nature of motorsport, Miller’s fate was not even in his own hands.

Spanish rider Alex Marquez came into Miller Corner far too quick, his Honda clattering into Miller’s back. Race over.

And with it went Miller’s hopes of hometown glory and even an albeit slender shot at the championship.

Jack Miller’s ended when Spanish rider Alex Marquez clattered into him at Phillip Island.

The knockabout Queenslander has charmed fans and everyone he has met this past week.

He’s lost count of the number of selfies he’s posed for. The fans have embraced his fair dinkum and relatable character.

Miller was not critical of Marquez and his mistake.

“What’s there to be hard feelings about?’’ he shrugged.

“We’re all out there trying to do our best. I understand he (Marquez) might have got a little bit carried away trying to get past (Luca) Marini.

“But you know, we’ve all made mistakes. I think he’s devastated as I am to not be finishing the race.

“First home Grand Prix after three years – it’s definitely not the way I wanted to finish it.

“It’s not the day I had planned, that’s for certain but it is what it is.’’

Jack Miller meets his family members after crashing out of the Australian MotoGP.

After he dusted himself off after the crash, Miller walked over to his family and friends who had been watching at “his” corner. He apologised to his “oldies” and later public apologised to all families who had come along hoping for an Australian winner.

One thing is for certain though. Expect bumper crowds again next year. You can start selling tickets now. Call it the Miller factor.

RINS AND REPEAT: MORE SPANISH SUCCESS AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Suzuki’s Alex Rins delivered a surprise victory in the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, dashing home ahead of Honda’s Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia on a Ducati.

The win comes in Suzuki’s third-last race before the manufacturer leaves the MotoGP series at season’s end.

Bagnaia jumped into the championship lead with defending champion Fabio Quartararo crashing out on lap 11.

Bagnaia has 233 points from Quartararo’s 219 with two races to go.

The Ducati star said he was happy to settle for third when he saw that the Frenchman was out.

Rins’ triumph was the fourth successive time a Spaniard has triumphed at Phillip Island.

The island delivered another classic with several lead changes throughout - the first seven finishers were covered by just 0.884 seconds.

Aussie Jack Miller’s Ducati was taken out by Alex Marquez early in the race at the corner bearing his name.

Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (L) and third placed Ducati Lenovo's Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia drink from their driving boots on the podium.-

Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins poses for a photo after his win.

Honda rider Marquez braked too late and clattered into Miller at the fourth turn, sending both sliding off the track.

The collision means that Miller’s championship hopes also vanished.

Miller was not critical of Alex Marquez and the mistake which ended the Aussie’s race.

“What’s there to be hard feelings about? We’re all out there trying to do our best. I understand he might have got a little bit carried away trying to get past (Luca) Marini,” he said.

“But you know, we’ve all made mistakes. I think he’s devastated as I am to not be finishing the race.

“First home grand prix after three years - it’s definitely not the way I wanted to finish it.

“It’s not the day I had planned, that’s for certain but it is what it is.’

Miller’s teammate Pecco Bagnaia was leading the race with 10 laps to go, taking the world title lead as Fabio Quartararo crashed out on the 11th lap.

Marquez later went to Miller’s Ducati garage to apologise to the Australian.

Fellow Australian Remy Gardner finished 15th on the KTM to pick up a point.

VR46 Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi was fourth to claim the Rookie of the Year title.

The 2022 Australian MotoGP round had biggest three-day crowd (91,158) since Casey Stoner’s farewell in 2012

Great to see! 🙌

No hard feelings between @jackmilleraus and @alexmarquez73 🤝#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/KlRSqiRDEp

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 16, 2022

FRIGHTENING SCENES AS RIDER RUN OVER

The Australian GP has been rocked by a frightening crash where a rider fell and was then run over.

Spain’s Jorge Navarro came off his bike after exiting Miller Corner on the 23rd lapat Phillip Island and Simone Corsi had little time to react.

The Italian collided with his Moto2 rival and there were reports from the track Navarro had to be taken away on a stretcher.

Navarro, 26, lay on the grass on the edge of the track for some time before he was taken away by medical officials for assessment.

Some marshals had waved for the race to be stopped but it continued under yellow caution flags.

Several fans questioned why the race was not red flagged after the alarming incident, one declaring MotoGP had “lost the plot”.

Spain’s Alonso Lopez grabbed victory in a race punctuated with crashes from many of the title contenders.

Agusto Fernandez was leading the championship before the race, but fell while in third position in the closing stages, allowing Japanese Ai Ogura to take the standings lead.

Lopez dominated from the front and won by 3.556 seconds from Pedro Acosta and then Brit Jake Dixon.

Acosta was congratulated in Parc Ferme by Aussie Remy Gardner.

Ten riders failed to finish, including Fernandez, Tony Arbolino, Celestino Vietti and Navarro.

BRUH. pic.twitter.com/zb6ntOFB0C

— hcehce419 (@hcehce419) October 16, 2022

A big one between @simonecorsi and @Jorge_Navarro9 💥

And shortly after @TonyArbolino is out of contention at T8 ⚠️#AustralianGP 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/D53yvJtrZi

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 16, 2022

Why has this not been red flagged? Ridiculous.

— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) October 16, 2022

No red flag on Navarro and Corsi crash?#Moto2

— stumbblitztwt🇵🇭🖤💗 (@stumbblitwt) October 16, 2022

Y’all are seriously disappointing true race fans. That should’ve been red flagged. You replayed a video right away and no rider update. Disgusting 🤮

— Crenshaw (@Vegas_007) October 16, 2022