Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders Jack Miller and Tito Rabat both made dramatic exits from today’s fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship in Jerez.

The Spanish GP, the 3,000th race since the World Championship began in 1949, saw both Miller and Rabat crash and end a streak of points scoring finishes this season.

Miller went out on lap six in controversial circumstances when he ended in the gravel at turn one with Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista.

A frustrated Miller was unhappy with Bautista’s bold move on the brakes that he believes cost him an excellent chance of another top ten finish.

The 27-lap race opened at a frantic pace with Miller moving from tenth on the grid to 8th on the opening lap in a torrid early battle with three-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo who eventually finished third on the podium.

In the scramble for track position Miller tried to stay out of trouble and play a waiting game before the collision with Bautista ended his race.

Just four laps after Miller’s exit Rabat took a heavy tumble out of the points in 13th position at turn two after starting 18th on the grid.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS will test at Jerez on Monday and then later in the week at Valencia before heading to Le Mans for the French Grand Prix.

Jack Miller: DNF
“It was a positive weekend until the race, I had good pace in practice and felt comfortable with the bike. I got a good start but got caught up with a bunch of other riders on laps three and four and almost got cleaned up a couple of times. Then Alvaro threw it in deep on the brakes, lost the front and took me out when I was on target for another top ten finish. It was real shame but the positives are that I had great pace and I can take that forward to the race at Le Mans.”

Tito Rabat: DNF
“It was a little strange in the race, the conditions were slippery and I couldn’t feel the front tyre 100% but after I got ahead of Bradley Smith and into 13th place I closed the front and crashed. But I was happy with my speed here and the work from the team which is building my confidence and I’m looking forward to the test on Monday and then the race in Le Mans.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“It was a disappointing end after both Jack and Tito had shown strong race pace during practice, it was shaping up as a perfect weekend with the target of both riders in the points. But it fell apart in the race with the incident between Jack and Alvaro and then Tito crashing out. Tito wasn’t completely comfortable in the hotter conditions for the race. After three consecutive top ten finishes and Tito in the points we unfortunately leave Spain with zero points but take a positive attitude to the next race in Le Mans.”