The Australian Red Bull KTM Ajo rider completed the Red Bull Grand Prix of Argentina to stand on the third step of the podium. Hanika did not finish the race due to a crash.

For the first World Championship event at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo today, Jack Miller finished on the podium once again in the Moto3 championship. The Australian, who fought hard for the win until the final lap, mounted the podium for the third time this year. Following two wins, Miller achieved a third place, allowing him to keep the World Championship lead in the junior category. Karel Hanika was not able finish the race after suffering two falls .

With a good start from pole position, Jack Miller quickly took up with the lead group of riders. The race leader changed various times over the 21 lap race, with Miller and Romano Fenati swapping places at the front for the majority of the race. In a breathtaking final lap battle, Miller was first into the penultimate corner, but after being hit by the Italian -a move that was investigated by race direction- was relegated to third place.

Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie Karel Hanika had an unlucky day. After a sixth row start, the Czech rider suffered a fall in the first lap that put any hopes of finishing in the points out of the question. Hanika still reentered the race with the intention of adding important track time in his first year in the World Championship. A second crash in the final laps ended the rookie’s participation in the race.

After three podiums and with 66 points, Miller leads the overall standings with a 17 point advantage over the second -placed Fenati. Miller’s teammate Hanika is ranked seventeenth with 11 points.

The World Championship heads directly to Jerez without pause, where on May 4th the Grand Prix of Spain will host the first European event on the calendar.

Results – Race
1. Romano Fenati (KTM) 38:34.451
2. Alex Marquez (Honda) +0.099
3. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.540
4. Livio Loi (Kalex KTM) +0.624
5. Alex Rins (Honda) +5.530
DNF – Karel Hanika

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2014
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 66 points
2. Romano Fenati (KTM) 49 points
3. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 42 points
4. Alex Marquez (Honda) 40 points
5. Alex Rins (Honda) 35 points
17. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 8 points

Jack Miller >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“It was a good race, very serious. At first I focused on doing my laps, pulling ahead as planned, with a little fighting with Fenati. We managed to open a gap and we ended up as a group of four riders. My strategy on the penultimate lap was to let Marquez pass, but I also let Fenati by. It didn’t upset me because on the last lap I could take advantage of the slipstream of two bikes on the back straight. I made the move to overtake them but I didn’t manage to get by Marquez and I had to pass him in the next corner. In the second to last corner I had the inside and was about to accelerate and I was hit from behind. I went into the dirty area of the track but was able to save the podium position.
Overall I’m happy with the race, we have done our best, and I’m sure that if I hadn’t been hit I would have won the race. Anyway, we scored more points in the standings, so that is positive.”

Karel Hanika >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“We started the weekend with a good feeling in free practice, but the qualifying session didn’t go quite right and we were forced to start from the back. But I made a good start. In the first corner I was hit by another rider and lost many positions. After the back straight and in a lot of heavy traffic, I had the first crash, where the bike was badly damaged. I wanted to continue, but then eventually fell again. It was the wrong end to the weekend, but we have to forget it and look toward the next race.”

Aki Ajo – Team Manager >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“The end result of Jack [Miller] wasn’t what we expected, because he had done an excellent job. He was very strong on the brakes and without the hit on the penultimate lap, he surely would have won. That’s racing -we did what we had to do. Apart from that, we should be happy because he gained sixteen very important points for the World Championship, which lets us stay in the lead. This is the important thing.
Karel [Hanika] was unlucky today, but we have to remember that this is his first year in the World Championship. In the first two races and he did very well and this weekend he was also doing a good job. It is positive that after the first fall he got back on to continue adding kilometers.”