MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL ROUND/NOVEMBER 9, 2014
RICARDO TORMO CIRCUIT/VALENCIA, SPAIN
P44
MILLER'S BATTLE, MARQUEZ' WAR
If excitement was at fever pitch at
the start, it would only rise higher dur-
ing yet another breath-taking Moto3
battle–with this time everything at
stake.
Loyalties would also be tested, in
complex ways. For instance, Isaac
Vinales currently riding for KTM, and
was thus enjoined to help Miller. But
next year he will race for Honda, and
could earn important Brownie points
by helping Marquez.
First-time pole starter Niccolo
Antonelli was in exactly the same posi-
tion.
Then there was Alex Rins, Honda
teammate to Marquez, but with no
love lost, since last year Marquez
was somewhat instrumental in Rins
losing the title to Maverick Vinales at
an equally exciting last race. Next year
both go to Moto2, in rival teams.
And Malaysia winner Efren Vazquez,
riding for Honda, but now jobless.
Before the race, however, Honda had
promised that he would not be jobless
next year after all; the quid pro quo be-
ing that he should help Marquez.
Miller took a flying start, with
Vinales taking second off Antonelli at
the end of the lap. Miller would lead al-
most every lap over the line, but there
were a couple of key moments.
On lap 15, Miller managed to stuff
it up inside Marquez and push him
wide. Marquez fell back to fourth, and
needed all the Honda help he could
get to recover.
Then on lap 20 Rins did the same
thing to Miller. He dropped briefly to
sixth, though he had recovered to
fourth by the end of the lap.
This opened the way for Vinales to
lead, and open up a gap of more than
1.5 seconds over new second-placer
Danny Kent on the Husqvarna.
Now Miller showed all his strength
as he forged back to second within
one lap, then slashed away at the
lead. He was in front as they started
the last lap, Vinales riding shotgun in
second, but Marquez was third, which
was all he needed.
The final drama came from Kent,
who mounted a spirited attack in the
last lap and was ready to pounce on
Marquez when instead he ran wide.
Marquez was almost a second adrift
at the end; but it was enough. Kent
was fourth, then Rins, Vazquez (who
Jorge Lorenzo
also made the
fatal mistake of
switching to wets
and ultimately
retired with five
laps to go.
