The Michelin® Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix ends with the P7 for Jack Miller – who greets his fans at the Parc Ferme as first Independent rider – and with the great comeback of Danilo Petrucci who finishes 12th after a sensational start ruined by a technical issue.
Jack and Petrux are respectively 6th and 8th on the grid and their start is fantastic. At the first corner, Petrux is first and Jack third but Danilo is immediately forced to go off the track due to a clutch problem. Jack fights for the podium until halfway through the race then he loses some contact. The Australian rider tries to push to recover the leading group but he is not able to close the gap.
Petrux is forced to try an impossible comeback after getting back on track with almost 20 seconds from the head. Lap after lap he managed to recover positions and six laps from the end he entered the points zone. Petrux ends up in P12 taking 4 precious points that allow him to conquer the sixth position in the World Championship standings and remains firmly in the race for the First Independent Trophy, 11 points behind Cal Crutchlow. Important points also for Alma Pramac Racing who increases his advantage over LCR Honda (51 points with two rounds left) in the ranking reserved for Independent Teams.
P12 – Danilo Petrucci
“It’s really a shame. I felt like I had a great feeling right from the warm-up. I went on track very focused and made my best start in my career. Unfortunately at turn two I had a problem with the clutch. I am really sorry but these are the races: once it is the rider who makes a mistake, another time it is the bike that betrays you. We’ll try again in Sepang”.
P7 – Jack Miller
“If I have to be honest I was expecting a little more but I am still happy with this result and being the first Independent rider. I got off to a good start even though I honestly didn’t think I would be in the lead so early. In the middle of the race I tried to save my tyres but in the end I didn’t have any room to attack the podium group”.