Local hope Jack Miller has crashed out of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix just eight laps in, after being taken out in dramatic style by Spaniard Alex Marquez.
The star Australian was a chance to claim his maiden MotoGP win at Phillip Island as he rode in fifth place, but his race ended in disaster at his own newly named Miller Corner.
Spain’s Alex Rins won the dramatic race, pinching the lead from Italian star Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap to win at Phillip Island.
The 26-year-old finished ahead of his resurgent countryman, the legendary six-time world champion Marc Marquez, with Bagnaia in third for the fourth win of his career.
Earlier, Marquez crashed into Miller from behind and the 27-year-old came flying off his Ducati.
It ended Miller’s Australian Grand Prix hopes but also his slim chance of winning this year’s world championship with two races remaining in the season.
Bagnaia will be left disappointed not to have won a race he led the majority of, but the result will still prove crucial towards his world championship hopes.
The Italian headed to the first Australian GP since 2019 trailing defending world champion Fabio Quartararo by two points in this year’s title race.
However, the 25-year-old will leave the Victorian track with a handy buffer, putting him in the box-seat to claim his first MotoGP title after Quartararo was forced to retire.
The Italian star made a big mistake early in the race, running wide into the sand on lap three, also at Miller Corner.
Jack Miller’s Australian Grand Prix is over.Credit:Getty Images
But his race ended for good on lap 10 as he came off the track in a disastrous outcome for his title aspirations.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Alonso Lopez claimed a dramatic Moto2 race that led to several riders crashing out and requiring medical attention.
Jorge Navarro lay injured on the side of the track for two laps after being struck by Italian Simone Corsi.
The race continued despite calls for it to be red-flagged.
Officials said Corsi and Navarro were taken to the medical centre for assessment.
In Moto3, Spanish young gun Izan Guevara secured the championship with a brilliant victory in the first race of the day.
The 18-year-old will take an unassailable advantage into the final two rounds of the season after beating out Turkey’s Deniz Oncu in the lightweight class.
AAP
