MILLER TAKES FIRST FACTORY MOTOGP WIN

Jack Miller has earned his first MotoGP victory as a factory Ducati rider taking out the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.

The Australian, whose only previous premier class win came during a rain-interrupted race at Assen back in 2016, launched into the lead of the race with a blistering start from the front row of the grid.

However, the Ducati rider was soon under threat from a fast-charging Fabio Quartararo aboard his factory Yamaha.

The Frenchman dropped down the order at the start after qualifying on pole but charged back quickly making his way past Miller to steal the lead on the third lap of the race.

With 12 laps left to run Quartararo had built up a comfortable 1.5s margin out the front of the field. But, in what would later be revealed to be arm pump issues, the Yamaha rider would quickly fade and tumbling down the order.

Miller would be the first to get back past Quartararo to reclaim the lead on Lap 16. The Australian’s teammate Francesco Bagnaia would shortly follow suit to make his way up to second.

Petronas SRT Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli, who was battling with Bagnaia much of the race, also made short work of Quartararo to take the final spot on the podium.

LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami put in a solid ride to finish fourth just ahead of Suzuki’s Joan Mir.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Gresini), Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha), Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) rounded out the top ten.

Quartararo would ultimately drop down to 13th, visibly in pain at the end of the race.

Alex Rins on the second of the factory Suzuki entries was able to finish the race in 20th after crashing on Lap 3 from seventh.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM), Enea Bastianini (Avintia Ducati) and Alex Marquez (Castrol LCR Honda) all failed to finish after crashing out in the early stages of the race.

Miller win moved him up to sixth in the MotoGP Championship standings, while second place was enough to allow his teammate Bagnaia to reclaim the points lead.

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