Moto3: Brilliant Miller snatches last lap victory
Jack Miller claimed a thrilling victory in Sunday's French Moto3 Grand Prix, denying Honda riders Efren Vazquez and Alex Rins with some superb out-braking moves.
A near perfect start had seen Miller take the early lead though an intense battle with Vazquez did neither any favours.
A mistake for Vazquez then gave Rins an initial break, only to be reeled back in, initially by his Estrella Galicia team-mate Alex Marquez before Vazquez also carved up the pack to hit the front once again.
But Australian teenager Miller was never far from the front and took two bikes in one go, pushing his seemingly underpowered KTM to the limit and putting himself back in contention for victory in the process.
A breathtaking finish saw the Red Bull KTM rider outbrake Vazquez and hold off Rins for the win.
This extends Miller's championship lead to an impressive 30 points, giving him a cushion of more than a race win.
Rins was just 0.095 seconds behind in second, the Spaniard's second podium in two races, using the Honda's acceleration to perfection.
Isaac Vinales followed Miller in the final stages to secure his first podium with a career best third for the Calvo Team after being in the mix throughout the race, putting a second KTM on the rostrum.
The chasing pack was busy with Francesco Bagnaia pushing through for fourth for the SKY VR46 Racing Team, beating Alex Marquez to the line with the Spaniard sealing fifth.
SaxoPrint-RTG rider Vazquez was just behind his fellow countryman in sixth after being on the receiving end of that tough pass from Miller, which ended his dreams of a win at the 111th attempt.
Enea Bastianini took seventh place for the Junior Go&Fun Team and was the highest placed rookie, with John McPhee the top placed British rider in eighth, though all the chasing pack were in with a shout of a trophy, marking a great race for the Scotsman.
Alexis Masbou had made a flying start to his home race, up as high as fourth, but faded to finish ninth for the Ongetta-Rivacold team.
Jakub Kornfeil just scraped a top ten finish for the Calvo Team. Taking the flag in eleventh was a resurgent Zulfahmi Khairuddin for Ongetta AirAsia.
Twelfth went to the top Mahindra of Miguel Oliveira, the Indian manufacturer seeing improvements after struggling with Ambrogio rider Brad Binder in 14th and Arthur Sissis just out of the points in 17th.
Danny Kent finished in 13th and was the best Husqvarna rider, his team-mate Niklas Ajo crashed late in the race.
The final point on offer went to Philipp Oettl for the Interwetten Paddock team.
Romano Fenati, winner of the last two rounds retired with engine trouble late in the race.
Aspar rider Juanfran Guevara was the first to crash and didn't complete the opening lap.
He was followed by French rider Jules Danilo; who initially managed to rejoin; Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie Karel Hanika and serial crasher Niccolo Antonelli who fails to finish again for the Gresini squad.
