MotoGP 2015, Argentina: Jack Miller takes victory in the Open class with 12th place finish

TWELFTH place might not sound spectacular, but the hard-fought result represents a big victory for Australian MotoGP racer Jack Miller.

Will Dale

3 min read

April 20, 2015 - 12:39PM

Miller’s first taste of MotoGP glory

TWELFTH place might not sound spectacular, but the hard-fought result is effectively a victory for Australian MotoGP racer Jack Miller.

Miller emerged the winner of MotoGP’s race-within-a-race, finishing the Argentinian MotoGP in 12th place but crossing the line first among the Open class runners.

And he did so on merit, fighting his way to the front of a seven-bike scrap for Open honours.

The result entitled him to celebrate in Parc Ferme alongside the podium finishers in the race, where he joined third-placed teammate Cal Crutchlow in a banner day for the Lucio Cecchinello Racing operation.

“I can’t thank the team enough for giving me this opportunity to show what I can do,” Miller said.

“A lot of people have doubted us, said it was stupid, this, that, the other. But we’re showing that we’re making progress every time.”

REPORT: ROSSI WINS IN ARGENTINA AFTER CLASH WITH MARQUEZ

RESULTS: CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS OF ARGENTINA MOTOGP

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Miller visits podium Parc Ferme for the first time since moving up to MotoGP.

Miller once again made a flying start from his lowly 21st grid position, vaulting his way towards the front of his group to cross the line in 15th place at the end of the first lap.

From there Miller engaged in the cut and thrust that is standard in MotoGP’s mid-pack, trading places with Hector Barbera and Stefan Bradl but always remaining near the front of the group.

“I’m learning a lot riding with those guys,” Miller said. “I had a great fight with Hector (Barbera) and (Hiroshi) Aoyama on the factory bike, it was really good.

“It wasn’t easy, especially fighting with the Ducatis and the factory Honda of Aoyama, because you get past them on the corners, then you get to that big long straight and they just sail past you.”

Miller leads Hayden (69), Aoyama (7) and Baz (76) mid-race.

As laps waned the battle for class honours whittled down to just Miller and Barbera, with the rest within striking distance had either rider fumbled an attempt to pass.

Despite fading tyres Miller attacked with two laps to go, passing Barbera for 13th only for the Ducati rider to fight back past halfway around the final lap.

Barbera passes Miller for the Open class lead.

The matter was only settled at the final corner, Miller sneaking past Barbera to seal victory in the Open class using a lesson learnt on the final lap of last year’s Moto3 race.

“It was definitely a little Moto3 style,” he said.

“I copied a little move from my mate Romano Fenati from last year; I stuffed it up the inside at the last corner!”

He gained an extra spot when Danilo Petrucci and Aoyama clashed ahead of him at the last turn, the Japanese rider crashing out and elevating Miller to 12th.

Miller ends the three-race flyaway start to the MotoGP season 16th overall in points and in second place in the Open rider standings, two points behind Barbera.

The class-leading finish is a significant milestone in Miller’s career path, yet he still doesn’t feel like he is exceeding his expectations yet.

“We’ve got to set high expectations. We’re not quite there yet,” he said.

“We were close to the top 10 today and that’s where I want to be.

“The bike’s awesome; we’ve just got to keep working with myself and my style.

“I’m still too much Moto3, hence the reason the tyre was destroyed at the end, but we’re making steps forward ... and each race we seem to be taking some positions down, but we’ll see where we are in a couple of races.

“It’s going to be hard now coming into Europe. A lot of those guys are really fast on those tracks.

“I’ve had a lot of fun in these overseas races, but I’m looking forward to getting home, getting training and getting ready for Jerez.”

The next MotoGP round is at Jerez in Spain on May 3.