Aragon MotoGP: Jack Miller ends European part of the season on a high as race strategy pays dividends

Australian Jack Miller has charged home to make it to a podium finish after his race strategy paid off handsomely at the Aragon MotoGP in Spain.

(LtoR) Second placed Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso, winner Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez and third placed Pramac Racing's Australian rider Jack Miller celebrate on the podium at the end of the MotoGP race of the Moto Grand Prix of Aragon at the Motorland circuit in Alcaniz on September 22, 2019. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP)

Australian Jack Miller stormed to a third-place finish in the Aragon MotoGP, collecting his third podium of the year and raising hopes of a similar result at his home race at Phillip Island next month.

The Pramac Ducati rider finished behind winner Marc Marquez, who recorded his eighth win of the year on the factory Honda, and Ducati pilot Andrea Dovizioso.

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Miller was strong all weekend, starting from fourth on the grid and rode a mature race, pouncing on Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales on the second-last lap.

“It’s an awesome way to end this part of the European season. I just tried to save the rear tyre,” he said after his third podium of the season.

“I didn’t want to get sucked into trying to chase Marc down too much and destroy the tyre and just be a sitting duck at the end there.

Australian rider Jack Miller on his way to finishing third in the Aragon MotoGP.

“I just rode my pace. Mav came past but he was, I think, trying to chase down Marc and towards the end there he just started struggling off the long corners … so I just kept my cool and was able to bring it home on the podium.”

Miller said he would head home to Townsville for a quick family break before the next race in Thailand on October 6.

The Aragon result on the back of an already steady season will give Miller, and his fans, genuine hope of pulling off a strong result in his home race at Phillip Island on October 25-27.

Marquez inched closer to a sixth MotoGP title, dominating the race from pole and was never really challenged.

He now has 300 points, ahead of Dovizioso with 202.

The Italian was delighted with his runner-up result, coming through the field from 10th on the grid.

Australian rider Jack Miller celebrates his podium finish.

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Vinales placed fourth ahead of French rookie Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha, then British Honda rider Cal Crutchlow, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) and Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) eighth.

Miller is eighth in the championship, just six behind Quartararo.

With AP

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Originally published as Aragon MotoGP: Jack Miller ends European part of the season on a high as race strategy pays dividends