Moto3 Valencia: Miller gets the race, Marquez gets the title!

Another page of history was written in Valencia, Alex Marquez won the Moto3 class title, repeating that of his brother Marc, winner of his second MotoGP title. In the history of Grand Prix racing, two brothers have never managed to win a title in the same season, which happened today on the Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Jack Miller, the only one who could still aim for the title, gave his all, won the race, but Marquez's third place at the same time forced him to give up. The Australian tried in every way to involve other riders in the fight, but in the end a world championship that seemed like it was his own a few months ago was lost by just 2 points.

The best of the Italians is Niccolò Antonelli, who started from pole (the first of his career) and reached the finish line seventh. Returning to the Marquez family, we must underline that this is the fifth title, after Marc's four this one for Alex has been added. A race to forget for Team Sky VR46 which saw Fenati finish fourteenth and Bagnaia sixteenth. In the end, Fenati came fifth in the world championship, behind Marquez, Miller, Rins and Vazquez.

Race report

Most important race of the season for the Moto3 class in Valencia, scene of the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community, last stage of the season. In fact, the 2014 world title is at stake, with Alex Marquez ahead of Australian Jack Miller by 11 points before the start. Pole yesterday went to Niccolò Antonelli, making his first start at the pole in his career. The Team Gresini rider obtained it just ahead of Miller and Marquez.

Second row for Isaac Vinales (KTM), Alex Rins (Honda) and Karel Hanika (KTM). Third row for Niklas Ajo (Husqvarna), John McPhee (Honda) and Efren Vazquez (Honda). Fifth row for Andrea Migno (Mahindra) and Romano Fenati (KTM) and seventh for Alessandro Tonucci (Mahindra), Francesco Bagnaia (KTM) and Enea Bastianini (KTM). Ninth and tenth row for the San Carlo Team Italia drivers, Matteo Ferrari and Andrea Locatelli, both on Mahindra. All ready, 24 laps to go for 96.12 km. The traffic lights go out, the fastest at the start is Jack Miller, who got off to a great start from the front row. Followed by Antonelli, Vinales, Marquez, Hanika and Kent.

The first lap ends with Miller in the lead ahead of Antonelli, Vinales, Marquez, Hanika and Rins. The other Italians were behind, with Bastianini 12th, Bagnaia 14th and Fenati 18th.

Isaac Vinales attacks Antonelli and moves into second position. The second lap ends with Miller still in command, but let's remember that the Australian, in addition to winning, must hope that Marquez doesn't go beyond third place, in order to win the title. It's a battle ahead, Marquez passes Antonelli, very combative today.

Miller is passed by Vinales, but shortly afterwards the next Honda MotoGP rider returns to the lead. The small group is regrouping, the first seven are within the space of a second. Vinales takes the lead again and Antonelli also passes Miller, who however responds a few corners later.

Everything is very open, even Rins is returning to the leading group which now sees Miller back in the lead. There are four Austrian bikes and four Japanese bikes in the top eight positions. Problems for Marquez, who collides with Antonelli, with the Spaniard who was closing the line. Vazquez also "enters" Marquez, now fifth.

Having reached the halfway point of the race we find Miller in command with just 42 thousandths of a second over Vinales. Vazquez attacks and takes the lead for a moment, but Miller responds. In the meantime, Marquez is trying to take third position, which would make him "calm" in terms of the title.

A tranquility that is not the right word to use today, given that they are beating themselves up in front. Rins comes in "hard" on Miller, but shortly after the Australian responds, regaining second position, while Vinales is in command.

Five laps to go, everything is still to be decided, in a race that could lead two brothers (the Marquezes) to win a GP world championship in the same year, something that has never happened in 66 years of racing. Miller will try to avoid him, but he is now in the grip of the Hondas. Miller and Marquez touch again, both losing ground. Miller tries to recover, but Vinales in front tries to escape.

The Australian from KTM tries to mend the gap by moving back into second position with decisive overtaking, while Marquez regains a position that currently sees him as the world champion. The final lap begins, Miller attacks and takes the lead, but Vinales responds. Final corners, Miller still in command, but Marquez in third wins the title!

In the end the gap between the two in the standings is only 2 points in favor of the Spaniard, who wins the title despite having won fewer races. Three against the Australian's six. Isaac Vinales reached the second step of the podium, while the best of the Italian riders was Niccolò Antonelli, seventh at the finish line.

A race to forget for Team Sky VR46 which saw Fenati finish fourteenth and Bagnaia sixteenth.