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Miller's Moto3 win one to savour

19th October, 2014
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Australia has a winner again on Phillip Island with Jack Miller storming home for a victory that keeps alive his Moto3 title hopes.

Set a tough task after qualifying eighth, Miller made a mockery of his grid position by storming through the field and holding off arch-rival Alex Marquez and Honda teammate Alex Rins to win.

The key move came on the final lap when Miller carved a route past the Spanish pair around Doohan corner to lead through to the chequered flag.

Miller celebrated his “best ever” win by flying the Australian flag around the coastal circuit to wild cheers.

“It was a big old fight that’s for sure,” he said.

“To win here with the horsepower, the top speed problems, it was really, really good.

“Yesterday was a disaster in qualifying, I got traffic on every lap so it’s really good to have a race like this.”

With the Honda pair on his tail as he swept around the final bend, Miller said he didn’t want to go that fast into the home straight again.

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

“To do it here on Phillip Island, it’s extra special.”

Miller revealed he sought the advice of Moto2 race winner Maverick Vinales, who was narrowly beaten by Alex Rins in the Moto3 race last year.

“He tried to slipstream… and it didn’t work, so I asked him if you could do the race again, what would you do?” he said.

“He said if you could lead from turn 10 that would be best so that’s what my aim was and that’s what we did.”

Miller will need every bit of confidence he can muster as he attempts to wrestle back control of the Moto3 championship race.

While the win cut his deficit to Marquez by five points, Miller is under no illusions how tough hauling in the Spaniard will be.

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“It’s going to be hard, two races and 20 points to go, but we’ll give it a go,” he said.

Marquez celebrated too after the race, knowing two more top-two finishes – even if he loses to Miller – will be enough to win the title.

Regardless of the title result, the 19-year-old’s breakout season has earnt him a switch to the premier MotoGP class in 2015.

His Phillip Island win was his fifth of the season and his first podium finish starting from outside the front row.

Receiving his trophy from his hero – Australian world champion Mick Doohan – Miller showed his emotion.

“There’s a lot of great guys that have won here, Mick’s one,” he said.

“To get the trophy, even to see him before we got the trophy (from him) was really special.”

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