Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller scored a second consecutive top ten finish with eighth place in today’s rain hit Malaysian Grand Prix.

The forecast rain showers came in advance of the 20-lap race forcing all riders to switch to Michelin wet weather tyres.

Standing water made conditions unpredictable and slippery with Miller briefly edging forward to tenth place on the opening lap from his starting spot of 11th on the grid.
The low grip levels and tight traffic saw Miller slide back and settle in 13th place with the Australian unable to engage his noted skills in wet races.

When grip levels improved Miller made a late race surge to grab eighth position with six laps remaining.

After moving ahead of Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro and Maverick Viñales Miller settled into a smooth rhythm as the rain increased over the closing laps.

At the finish Miller’s Honda RC213V was almost three seconds ahead of Viñales in ninth.

The wet and gloomy race weather brought little joy for Spanish rider Tito Rabat who suffered a lack of rear grip from the start, but put in a typically determined performance to complete the race distance.


Jack Miller: 8th

“The opening laps were not easy with the grip levels and it was struggle to stay on the track especially when I was on the left side of the tyre, I was just trying to stay on two wheels. It was a little scary. But from halfway in the race the rear tyre started working better and I was able to make up some positions and grab eighth. Overall a good weekend, I was very strong in the dry and this was my second top ten since coming back from the broken leg so I'm now looking for more points in Valencia.”

Tito Rabat: 18th

“It was dry and sunny all morning then rained for our race so not ideal for me and then I feel I had some issue with the rear tyre, my knee was on the tarmac many times even with very little throttle, I had zero grip. I had a strange feeling and at one point thought about stopping but I pushed to the end although I'm disappointed to be so far behind.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal

“For Jack to finish eighth is a good result considering he had a difficult start to the race, the conditions were slippery and he was sliding a lot. In the final laps he tried to catch Valentino for seventh but in any case I’m happy with this result. For Tito it was not an easy weekend with the conditions and when the rain came for the race it was even more difficult. Now we move to Valencia and look forward to the final race of the season.”