MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 15/OCTOBER 12, 2014
TWIN RING MOTEGI/MOTEGI, JAPAN
P44
MARQUEZ
THE YOUNGER
Another thriller, and another set-
back for long-time title leader Jack
Miller and his Red Bull KTM, the
Australian seizing defeat from the very
jaws of victory with a single missed
gearshift on the third-to-last corner.
But for that, he thought, he might
have won it, to reclaim the title lead
from Alex Marquez. Instead, his slip
handed the race win to Marc's younger
brother, who stretched his champion-
ship advantage to a very handy 25
points.
Pole qualifier Danny Kent led away,
with Miller taking over on lap five, by
then a lead group of six had broken
away, with Miguel Oliveira, Brad
Binder, Marquez and first-time front-
row starter John McPhee.
Miller led until lap 11, by when
second SaxoPrint Honda rider Efren
Vazquez had worked through the next
pack and broken free to join in. Almost
immediately Oliveira was gone, in a
huge thumping highside that saw him
stretchered away, though he was on
his feet soon afterwards, his worst
injury a badly bitten tongue.
Marquez led one more lap, then it
was Miller again, the pack shuffling
constantly as the laps counted down.
The crucial moment came at the
end of the downhill straight on the last
corner. Kent dove inside to lead into
the corner, only to run out wide. Mar-
quez was on the other side of Miller
when the Australian found neutral and
also ran wide.
He collided with Kent as they
regained the track, but by then
Marquez was gone, with Binder third
and McPhee a career-best fourth, the
first four over the line within less than
seven tenths.
Miller was only another four tenths
