Australian Moto3 2014: Jack Miller wins on Phillip Island to keep world title hopes alive

JACK Miller hailed his fighting Phillip Island Moto3 victory on Sunday the greatest of his rising career.

2014 Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix - Jack Miller in action during Moto3 warm up. Picture: Mark Stewart

JACK Miller hailed his fighting Phillip Island Moto3 victory on Sunday the greatest of his rising career as the Aussie dynamo kept his world championship hopes alive.

The 19-year-old had never previously reached the podium without starting on the front row but surged from eighth on the grid to the lead by the fourth lap to set up his shot at a breakthrough win at home.

But Miller said the confidence gained would count for nothing in 2015 when the rookie parachutes into the 1000cc premier class on a lucrative three-year contract with Honda, bypassing Moto2.

The man being billed as our next Casey Stoner labelled qualifying a "disaster" but made his bold move on Doohan corner in the final lap on Sunday, screeching clear of Moto3 leader Alex Marquez and holding on by 0.029 sec.

Jack Miller celebrates winning the Australian Moto3 Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

Less than a quarter of a second separated the first six drivers. “It was very, very scary at some points," Miller said.

“It was a big, old fight for sure and to win here with the top speed problems I’m having is really, really good for me.”

Miller was presented his trophy by Mick Doohan and the Australian motorcycling legend believes the young gun is ready for his shot at MotoGP stardom.

Miller’s victory was his first on home soil and reignites Aussie dominance after Stoner finished his career in 2012 with six straight MotoGP wins at Phillip Island.

“Through the race you can see the Aussie flags flying around everywhere, you can really, really feel the support and it was a great feeling,” Miller said.

“I know how these guys (Spaniards Marquez and Alex Rins) feel most weeks.”

Miller clawed within 20 points of Marquez and put 21 points between him and Rins after saluting for the first time since the German Grand Prix 98 days ago.

“It’s going to be hard (to win the crown),” Miller said.

“Two races and 20 points to go, but we’ll give it a go.”

Sunday’s race was littered with lead changes but Miller said some strategy advice he sought from Spaniard Maverick Vinales on Saturday helped secure victory.

“He got second here last year and tried to use the slipstream on the last lap,” Miller said.

“I said, ‘What would you do again?’ He said, ‘I'd lead the last lap’, so that's what I tried to do and it paid off. I tried to keep in front of Alex, it was a tight race through there.”

Jack Miller of Australia holds up his winner's trophy.

Miller’s series of giant-killing performances on his KTM bike landed the Honda deal four years after parents Peter and Sonya mortgaged their north Queensland house to take Jack to Spain and fund his dream.

Remy Gardner, given a wildcard to race on the straight named after his world champion father Wayne, had his hopes of impressing hit by a bike problem in the warm-up lap.

After starting from pit lane the 16-year-old finished 26th, while fellow Aussie wildcard Olly Simpson was last across the line.

Aussie Anton West finished 22nd in Moto2 with locals Aiden Wagner and Max Croker the final two to finish.

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Originally published as Australian Moto3 2014: Jack Miller wins on Phillip Island to keep world title hopes alive