A wet and wild affair at the Dutch motorcycle Grand Prix saw an unlikely victory achieved by Aussie Jack Miller, claiming his maiden win in the premier class.
The time trial of Assen which in 2016 changed from its traditional Saturday slot over to Sunday, was declared a wet race from the beginning, before a second band of showers ended up suspending proceedings after 14 laps.
Up until the red flag it was an intensifying battle at the fore between the pole sitter Andrea Dovizioso and 2015 race winner Valentino Rossi.
Colombian Yonny Hernandez had taken an early lead from the two Italians, with assistance from a softer compound rear wet Michelin tyre, however he fell at Turn 1 with the return of the rain.
Amid the spray was the makings of salivating scrap. Pramac Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci had taken the reigns from Dovizioso and Rossi, as Pramac teammate Scott Redding joined the Italian triumvirate.
The factory Hondas of Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa had also attached themselves to the train, as had satellite Honda rider Cal Crutchlow.
In accordance with MotoGP regulations, whatever position riders sit in at the time of the race being suspended, is the position they restart – allowing Miller to recommence from the eighth which he had attained prior to the halt.
Miller was able to take advantage of the madness ahead in the second start, which saw heavyweights in the forms of Dovizioso and Rossi make shock departures in consecutive laps, as cold tyres wreaked havoc in the slippery conditions.
Following the fallen Ducati and Yamaha, Pedrosa and Crutchlow also bowed out in disappointment not long after. Petrucci’s satellite Ducati came to a gut-wrenching halt 11 laps from the end too.
Championship leader Márquez had inherited the lead, but with nine laps to go the charging Marc VDS Honda of Miller made his move on the dual-world champion into the final chicane.
A composed and mature ride to the chequered flag from Miller, who continues to recover from injuries sustained earlier in the season, sees him become the first Australian to win in the premier class since Casey Stoner’s final victory in 2012 at Phillip Island.
It was also a historic outcome for Miller’s Marc VDS outfit, as they earn the first victory for an independent team since Toni Elias for the Gresini squad in 2006.
It was confirmed pre-race also that the victorious 21-year old from Townsville would see out the third year of his HRC contract at his current Marc VDS team, with the maiden win certainly to add stock to his name for a future berth on a factory bike.
Rounding out the rostrum was Redding, denying a maiden career podium for Pol Espargaro on the Tech3 Yamaha. The Briton was in contention for the lead of the race earlier on.
In terms of the championship, the big winner despite finishing second overall during the frenzied episode was Márquez, now possessing a 24 point lead over Jorge Lorenzo, who salvaged tenth in an appalling race.
A third retirement of the year for the nine-time world champion Rossi has further dented his hopes of a tenth title, with his deficit to the leading Spaniard now grown to 42 points.
Another twist in a championship so far that has lacked consistency, but continues to tantalise race by race.
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