After starting fourth in the race, Jack Miller was delighted – and rightly so – with a well-deserved third podium of the season in a challenging Aragon Grand Prix.
The Australian finished third behind runaway Marc Marquez, who extended his championship lead five remaining races to a whopping 98 points ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.
While it was the same for a dominant Marquez celebrating his fifth victory in Aragon, Miller’s third place was not such a formality.
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After starting fourth, Miller quickly fought his way up to second place. However, when Marquez flew away, Miller found himself leading a long platoon of drivers.
Maverick Vinales and Dovizioso were Miller’s main antagonists when Fabio Quartararo fell out, and it wasn’t long before Miller dropped back to fourth.
Dovizioso used the power of his Ducati to great effect to advance to second place, and Vinales looked strong enough to hold onto. On the way to the final lap, however, the Yamaha rider quickly fell into Miller’s clutches.
It would be a bold move to do so, but Miller did it on the 23rd and final tour of the Aragon circuit before the Aussie’s Pramac bike became the widest on the track by the checkered flag.
Dovizioso leads Miller during the race.Source: Getty Images
“I was just trying to keep my pace,” Miller said before reaching the podium.
“We did a lot of runs all weekend, just working on it, and I kind of stuck with it.
“I changed cards very early and tried to change the rear tire, I didn’t want to tempt you to chase Marc.”
Knowing full well that catching Marquez was out of the question, Miller was determined to get a trophy.
Dovizioso’s factory Ducati had the bike on the move, but when Vinales hit a cliff, Miller knew he could increase his podium places in Austin and Brno.
All he needed was a calm head, correct ambition, and enough stamina and the ability to avoid the intimidation of Vinales’ past passage from the outside.
“I was driving at my own pace, Mav passed, but I think he was trying to chase Marc,” said Miller, who is moving up to seventh place overall.
“Towards the end he just started fighting in the long corners.
“I stayed cool and was able to bring home a podium.”
(LR) Dovizioso, Marquez and Miller celebrate on the podium.Source: Getty Images