Aussie Jack Miller triumphs in Phillip Island Moto3

JACK Miller has surged through the field to win the Australian Moto3 Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

Moto3 rider Jack Miller of Australia (C) celebrates winning the Australian Moto3 Grand Prix at Phillip Island from Alex Marquez of Spain (L) in second and Alex Rins of Spain (R) on October 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS IMAGE STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

AUSTRALIAN Jack Miller has surged through the field to win the Australian Moto3 Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

Spending most of the race duelling for top position with title rival Alex Marquez, Miller made a decisive move on Doohan corner of the final lap of the race to win his home race.

Miller said while the win was the best of his career, it was also terrifying.

“It was very, very scary at some points,” he said.

“It was incredible, everybody fought cleanly, it was a very good race.

“To do it here and do it well, it’s extra special.” The victory keeps alive his hopes of claiming a Moto3 crown, though Marquez’s second place position means the advantage gained is slight.

Miller cut Marquez’s lead in the Moto3 championship to 20 points with the win, with Alex Rins third in the blanket finish.

Starting from eighth, Miller’s task was a huge one but he quickly made a mockery of his grid position.

Miller improved his grid position to be seventh by the first bend, sixth by the end of the first lap and a key player of the leading pack.

The 19-year-old crowd favourite had the quickest lap of the race in lap three, including a sharp passing move on Danny Kent as he continued to move forward.

He announced himself as a serious challenger by taking the lead on the fourth lap.

The leading pack proceeded to play a game of cat and mouse through the race, sharing the lead through more than half a dozen riders.

But the game got serious with a few laps remaining.

A key moment came with four laps to go as Marquez misjudged a bend to slip to ninth and the back of the lead pack — with Miller at the front.

But Marquez surged again to retake the lead within two laps. Miller was not to be denied, overtaking both Marquez and Rins on the final lap to steal victory.

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

Starting from the pit lane, his race became about catching the field rather than racing in it.

By lap 10, he was able to compete and finished 26th after duelling with front-rower Juanfran Guevara.

Fellow wildcard rider Olly Simpson enjoyed his debut grand prix ride but failed to make an impact, finishing last.

A field of 28 finished the race, with five forced to withdraw. While the Australian winner celebrated strongly in front of his home crowd, championship leader Marquez showed his delight with the result after the race, knowing a 20-point lead with two races remaining is potentially a title-winning one.

In the Moto2 grand prix, Maverick Vinales has triumphed, denying Esteve Rabat the chance to celebrate the championship win.

Rabat entered the race knowing a strong performance would give him the Moto2 crown but was beaten by his Spanish countryman on Phillip Island.

Vinales won the race ahead of Thomas Luthi, with Rabat in third. Rabat increased his lead over Mika Kallio to 41 points, meaning any result above sixth in Malaysia will guarantee the championship. Australian rider Anthony West finished 22nd, while local wildcard riders Aiden Wagner and Max Croker finished as the final two riders in 26th and 27th.

AAP