Miller wins Moto3 opener!

Australian Jack Miller took line honours in the opening Moto3 world championship race at the Losail Circuit in Qatar on March 23, the first of 18 rounds of the competition.

It was the 19-year-old Australian’s first Moto3 win as he made a stellar debut with the Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory team. Miller defeated Spanish Honda duo Alex Marquez and Efren Vazquez in a thriller.

“It was pretty scary going into the final lap because the tires were more worn than I expected them to be,” said Miller.

“But I just gave it my all. We couldn't have asked for anything better. It was a really good first race. It’s a great way to start the season, but it’s that. It’s the start. We still have a long way to go and I still have a lot to learn."

Miller, who had a front row start, swooped to the front at the start of the race shadowed by Marquez. The two riders then settled down to swap the lead back and forth and at one point had a 3.5-second lead on the rest of the pack.  

Behind the leaders a battle raged for the minor podium place with engagement by no less than five or six riders. The group narrowed the gap to the two leaders to less than a second in the closing laps setting up what was to be a thrilling final dash to the line.

Miller played his hand well. Going into the final corners the Australian was perfectly placed to capitalise on a small mistake by Marquez. Marquez went wide in the corner, Miller quickly grabbed the advantage and went on to take line honours and pick up maximum points in the opening round.

Miller's countryman Arthur Sissis (Mahindra Racing) saw out the event with a nasty bout of tonsillitis.

Moto GP of Qatar - Losail circuit - Round 1
Moto3 Results
1, Jack Miller, AUS, KTM, 38’05.810
2, Alex Marquez, ESP, Honda, 38’06.043
3, Efren Vazquez, ESP, Honda, 38’06.090
4, Miquel Oliveira, POR, Mahindra, 38’06.105
5, Alex Rins, ESP, Honda, 38’06.179
6, Jakub Kornfeil, CZE, KTM, 38’06.396
7, Alexis Masbou, FRA, Honda,38’07.919
8, Isaac Viñales, ESP, KTM, 38’07.971
9, Niccolo Antonelli, ITA, KTM, 38’13.963
10, Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, KTM, 38’13.983

Moto3 Standings after Round 1
1, Miller, 25
2, Marquez, 20
3, Vazquez, 16
4, Oliveira, 13
5, Rins, 11
6, Kornfeil, 10
7, Masbou, 9
8, Viñales, 8
9, Antonelli, 7
10, Bagnaia, 6
Other KTM
12, Fenati, 4
14, Hanika, 2