4. Jack Miller (Moto3)
Moto3 is a class dominated by one particular motorcycle, that being the KTM. Every single race this year in the junior class has been won by the Austrian manufacturer but clearly no-one had told Jack Miller as the FTR-Honda rider raced his heart out in front of a 31,500-strong home crowd.
By his own admission, qualifying didn’t go as he’d dreamt it although he did hold provisional pole five minutes into the session. Miller was eventually shuffled back to tenth but the home favourite wasted no time making up ground in the race, rising to sixth by the end of the first lap and entrenching himself in a feisty leading group mostly made up, of course, of KTM powered motorcycles.
Despite being repeatedly outgunned on the long run to Doohan corner, Miller kept coming back for more and thanks to some wonderfully opportunistic moves, Jack seemed to be closing in on a first Grand prix podium, running as high as second at one point. With half a lap remaining, Miller held third position but a stunning move from championship leader Luis Salom would break Australian hearts. Alex Marquez also took advantage to leave Jack in fifth but the home favourite won’t have to wait much longer to stand on the rostrum and with a Red Bull KTM Ajo contract in his pocket for 2014, Jack may be a champion in waiting.
(Photo Credit: MotoGP.com)
