Moto3: Jack Miller wins, Alex Marquez champion
The 2014 Moto3 title went down to wire at Valencia on Sunday, when Jack Miller took victory but third place was just enough for Alex Marquez to be crowned world champion.
Emotional Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Miller did everything in his power to try to win the title, battling back after Isaac Vinales pulled out a 1.5 second lead to put the title in his grasp.
Vinales, who did a great job for both Team Calvo and the KTM squad to hold back Marquez until breaking free at the front, was pushed to second at the line, just 0.155 behind the Australian, equalling his best finish to date.
But Miller needed Marquez off the podium even if he won and, while fellow Ajo rider Danny Kent looked set for a late lunge, the Englishman lost touch with Marquez after a wobble on the final lap. That confirmed Estrella Galicia rider Marquez in the third place he needed to clinch the title by two points.
Crossing the line almost a second adrift of Miller, Marquez ran a considered and calm race, responding every time he was forced wide on his Honda to show great race-craft on the way to his first world title by just two points.
His podium finish in third for the title also marks the first time in the 66-year history of Motorcycle racing that racing brothers have both taken World Championship titles with Marc Marquez already the MotoGP champion for 2014.
Alex Marquez's team-mate Alex Rins had some close moments with Miller on the way to fifth and was the first to congratulate his celebrating team-mate.
Sixth went to one time race leader Efren Vazquez, who finished mid-pack after the group stretched with five laps to go, after eleven riders had swapped paint and position in the leading group.
Pole-sitter Niccolo Antonelli was initially in contention before being shuffled down to seventh for Junior Team Go& Fun. Antonelli made early race contact with Marquez, causing them both to run wide.
Miguel Oliveira took eighth at the line for Mahindra, only just ahead of Brad Binder of Ambrogio Racing in ninth in a tight race to the flag.
Karel Hanika was not far behind the pair to finish in the top ten for Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Enea Bastianini was eleventh for Junior Go & Fun, in turn holding off Ongetta's Alexis Masbou who crossed the line in twelfth and Calvo's Jakub Kornfeil in another tight run to the line.
The remaining points went to Romano Fenati, who could not manage to charge through the pack this time despite having the pace of the riders at the front in 14th for Sky Racing Team VR46 and Aspar rider Juanfran Guevara in 15th.
John McPhee was just raced out of the points in 17th for SaxoPrint-FTG.
Away from the main action there were crashes for Philipp Oettl,Calvo's Albert Arenas, RBA Rider Gabriel Rodrigo, Jules Danilo of Ambrogio, Niklas Ajo and Marc VDS rider Jorge Navarro. Scott Deroue retired to the pits.
Alex and MotoGP champion Marc are the first ever brothers to win grand prix titles. Alex Marquez will move to Moto2 next season and Miller straight to MotoGP.
KTM won the Moto3 Constructors' title despite being tied on points with Honda.
