Podium for Jack Miller increases series lead

10/08/2014

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider takes third position at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in an intense race. Hanika, thirteenth, scores three points for the World Championship standings.

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Up to 10 riders fought for victory on the 23-lap Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. Jack Miller managed his tyre strategy well to cross the finish line in third position and increase his lead in the Moto3 overall standings to 21 points. His teammate, Karel Hanika, returned to points-scoring ways into the points after placing thirteenth.

An excellent start for Jack Miller from pole position saw him push hard to lead the first three laps. After observing that the characteristics of the circuit would prevent an escape from the group, the Australian preferred to allow someone else to take the initiative and follow in the front group –consisting of between 7 and 10 riders. Miller fought for the win, but it was on the last lap where he took a place on the podium.

Karel Hanika had a clear goal for Sunday, wanting to finish the race after two consecutive DNFs. The Czech rider was part of the second group, involved in the fight for eighth place in the first half of the race until his tyres went off, forcing him to slow down and secure a position that would allow him to take further points for his tally. Hanika eventually placed thirteenth.

After 10 races, the Moto3 World Championship is led by Jack Miller with 158 points, 21 more than Efren Vazquez, winner of today’s race. Hanika’s three points today put him in seventeenth position. The rookie of the Red Bull KTM Ajo team will have a home GP next weekend, as the series heads to the Czech Republic.

Results – Race
1. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 39:12.977
2. Romano Fenati (KTM) +0.065
3. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +0.219
4. Alexis Masbou (Honda) +0.372
5. Alex Rins (Honda) +0.719
13. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +9.598

 

Moto3 World Championship Standing 2014
1. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 158 points
2. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 137 points
3. Alex Marquez (Honda) 133 points
4. Romano Fenati (KTM) 130 points
5. Alex Rins (Honda) 118 points
17. Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 19 points

 

Jack Miller >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“I’m very happy. We’ve managed to score points that allow us to continue leading the World Championship. We finished the race without making stupid mistakes and I’m very happy about that. We have a good advantage over those behind us and that’s good for us, but now we need to focus on Brno, where I think the bike will be much better suited to the track than here at Indianapolis. We knew the weekend was going to be a struggle, but at Brno think we have another good opportunity, so I’m already looking forward to next weekend.”

Karel Hanika >> Audio (solely for radio use)

“The race started very well. I was able to hold my position at the beginning. There were some great battles, a bit of contact with another rider which was completely fair. Then I lost some positions because I couldn’t get a good feeling. I had a little slide that I saved and I also rode at the head of my group, in which we had 3 or 4 riders. We set some very good times.  In 15 laps we were close to catching the front group and in the end we almost did ​​it. We were just two seconds behind them. On the last six laps the tyres were already degraded. In the end I think we had a good race, we took some valuable points and now I’m looking forward to my home round.”

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