With a fast and focused performance Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller finished a superb sixth in a rain soaked race at Misano today.

It was another masterclass in wet track riding by Miller, who surged into his second top six result of the season from 14th on the grid.

Miller’s previous sixth place was at the Dutch TT in June.

Miller had threatened a big haul of points after qualifying and the Australian delivered on cue, despite the slippery and tricky conditions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Miller dashed into ninth place on lap one and two laps later was locked in a titanic battle with Cal Crutchlow and Maverick Vinales for fifth place.

On lap six Miller had moved to fifth and settled into a long contest with Vinales before fading rear grip left him unable to hold off the late race challenge from Michele Pirro.

Miller’s sixth place is a confidence boost in advance of the next race, the Aragon GP, in two weeks.

Tito Rabat’s desire to finish in the points was dampened in the opening laps when he suffered from a lack of grip on the drenched Misano circuit. The race day rain was not ideal for Rabat who had showed good pace in the dry practice sessions.

But the determined Spaniard regrouped and by lap 17 he was in 13th and on target to score championship points. Three laps later Rabat slid out of the race at turn six.

Jack Miller: 6th
“At the start of the race I felt I had more pace than Vinales and Crutchlow but by the end of the race my pace dropped and I probably switched the engine map too late to help look after the rear tyre. It was good on the edge but I had lost some drive grip and it wasn’t possible to hold off Pirro in the final laps. This was my best weekend in the second half of the season so far and with some good points I am looking forward to the next race in Aragon.”

Tito Rabat: DNF
“At beginning of the race I had no grip on the rear and don’t know why and this made the early laps difficult on a very wet track. Then I was able to take my rhythm and catch the guys ahead and was in a position to score points. With the crash I just rolled the gas a little at turn six and the rear slid out. It is disappointing for me and the team, I wanted to finish the race in these difficult conditions.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“Not only I am very happy with this race result by Jack I am even happier that we are back in the form showed at the beginning of the season with a fast and constant pace. And who knows what could have happened if Jack had been able to get ahead of Crutchlow and Vinales earlier in the race. But sixth is a perfect result considering the conditions and I hope we can take this level to the next race in Aragon. It is a shame for Tito not to finish as he was closing on some points late in the race in tricky conditions.”