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Moto3: Jack Miller’s season hangs in balance

JACK Miller’s grasp on second place in the Moto3 world standings could slip with the Australian forced to start from eighth at Phillip Island.

2014 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Jack Miller gives a wave during Moto3 qualifying. Picture: Mark Stewart
2014 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Jack Miller gives a wave during Moto3 qualifying. Picture: Mark Stewart

JACK Miller’s grasp on second place in the Moto3 world standings could slip today with Australia’s next great hope forced to start from eighth at Phillip Island.

But Miller — the heir apparent to Casey Stoner’s throne as king of the local circuit — will bypass the middle championship in 2015 with the 19-year-old set to leap straight into the MotoGP after being signed by Honda Racing Team.

The frustrated Queenslander yesterday conceded he would have to take risks to catch up ground today.

Miller was stuck in 13th with two minutes left in Saturday’s qualifying session but shot to eighth before aborting the final lap as he gestured at other drivers.

He finished fifth at Phillip Island last year and 21st in 2012.

Miller, 19, enters today’s race trailing Alex Marquez by 25 points and is 12 points clear of Alex Rins.

Remy Gardner shows what he can do at Phillip Island.
Remy Gardner shows what he can do at Phillip Island.

But the Spaniards and Honda teammates sealed the front two Moto3 positions for today’s 1pm race, with Marquez joining older brother and reigning MotoGP world champion Marc on pole.

If the starting grid resembles today’s results Miller will tumble 42 points behind Marquez and will be caught by Rins — last year’s Moto3 champion — on 214 points with the Malaysia and Spanish circuits to follow.

Wildcard Remy Gardner — the son of Australian legend Wayne — will start today’s Moto3 final in position 24 after qualifying 1.422 sec slower than Marquez.

Fellow local wildcard Olly Simpson qualified 33rd from the 34 starters.

Gardner will chase the chequered flag down Gardner Straight — named after his dad, along with (Mick) Doohan and Stoner Corners.

The impressive 16-year-old has been based in Spain the past three years and said he did not feel his name added pressure ahead of his home debut.

“I am not Wayne Gardner, I am Remy Gardner,” he said.

Jack Miller was frustrated after a disappointing qualifying performance.
Jack Miller was frustrated after a disappointing qualifying performance.

“I am different person and I want to be known by my name. So I don’t put any pressure on myself or get any from the people immediately around me.”

Wayne retired before Remy was born and said he was seen solely as a dad — and not a racer — to his son.

Wet weather specialist Ant West will fly the Aussie flag in Moto2.

The 33-year-old Maryborough product will start 25th and is known as “The Rain Man” with his slippery skill-set born out of his dirt track background, while fellow Aussies Aiden Wagner (31st) and Max Croker (34th) also qualified.

Croker pulled off an incredible save in practice yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, legend Mick Doohan backed Miller’s imminent rapid climb to the top tier.

“He’s young, a lot of people are saying perhaps the jump straight from Moto3 to MotoGP isn’t the right thing,” Doohan said.

“To me, he knows how to ride a bike, he knows the circuits.

“So there’s only one thing he has to understand and that’s the bike.”

Originally published as Moto3: Jack Miller’s season hangs in balance

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsport/moto-gp/moto3-jack-millers-season-hangs-in-balance/news-story/8f75ac797d5042f0cd20c1f8b2e67141