The 250th race of the modern
MotoGP era will be one that Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS and Jack Miller
will never forget, after the Australian claimed a remarkable maiden premier
class victory at the historic Assen track in the Netherlands on a rain soaked
track.
Miller overcame perilously
tricky conditions on a weather-dominated afternoon at the Dutch TT to become
the first non-factory rider in 10 years to win in MotoGP.
He also became the first
Australian to win a MotoGP race since Casey Stoner in 2012 after a day of high
drama and tension in front of a sell-out crowd of 105,000 fans in Holland.
Scheduled to be a 26-lap race
that started on a wet track, Miller had expertly mastered the tricky track
conditions to charge from 19th into eighth when the action was halted on safety
grounds on lap 15 as monsoon conditions enveloped the 4.5km Assen venue.
Once conditions had improved and standing
water was cleared from the track, the race was restarted over a shortened
distance of 12-laps, with the grid forming based on positions from part one.
Conditions were no less
hazardous in part two, but as experienced riders crashed out of contention,
Miller rode a majestically measured and composed race to move into the top
three on only the second lap.
A brilliantly executed
overtake on Marc Márquez on lap four then put Miller at the front of the field.
And it was a lead he never
looked like relinquishing, as he rode a faultless final eight laps to win by
almost two seconds, sparking jubilant celebrations to mark the first MotoGP win
by Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS since its premier class collaboration
started with Honda in 2015.
Miler’s teammate Tito Rabat
crashed on lap five in the 12-lap restart.
After his win Jack Miller
said, “I don’t often say this but I’m lost for words. I feel incredibly
emotional right now and it is hard to describe the sensation of winning for the
first time in MotoGP....”
In fact after the race was
restarted, run over 12 laps, the grid was based on the finishing positions on
lap 14 and the quick restart rule made its first appearance in the premier
class. As such Andrea Doviziosoof Ducati Team lined up on pole with Danilo Petrucci and Valentino Rossi completing the
front row. Redding led the Repsol Honda Team pairing of Marc Marquez and Dani
Pedrosa on the second row, Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) lined up in
19th after a disastrous start in the first 14-lap race.
Andrea Dovizioso, who had led
the restart, lost the front end as he attempted to stay with Rossi. He took a
heavy roll through the gravel but sustained no serious injuries. This granted
Rossi a comfortable lead until he crashed out at Turn 10 a lap later. This is
Rossi's third DNF of the 2016 season.
Source: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS / MotoGP
Pictures courtesy: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS