Keith Huewen: 'Really surprised' no penalty for Miller, Mir incident
After a worrying start to the season Quartararo dominated the Portimao race for his and Yamaha’s first victory of the year, also taking them to the top of the world championship standings.
But the rest of the podium places were hotly contested, with Joan Mir holding second for most of the grand prix.
The Suzuki rider was gradually caught by the Ducatis of Johann Zarco and Jack Miller, but while Zarco was able to pass without issue, Miller lost the front while trying to outbrake Mir into turn 1, leaving them both in the gravel.
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“I’m really surprised he didn’t get some penalty,” said former grand prix rider and British champion Huewen. “He caused another rider to crash.
“The end of that straight is really tricky because if the thing isn’t settled over that hump, you are in the braking area going downhill. And we know the Suzuki is pretty nimble on the front end.
A devastating end to two strong rides @jackmilleraus and @JoanMirOfficial's Sunday ended in the Turn 1 gravel trap #PortugueseGP pic.twitter.com/sc6qnM4FwM
— MotoGP (@MotoGP) April 24, 2022
“Jack had committed to the inside line, so he either had to squeeze harder or run them both wide.
“Taking out Mir - Jack is not an unsafe rider, but I’m actually surprised he didn’t get a penalty for that. He caused another rider to crash. Rammed it up the inside, lost it, wiped him out.
“Jack did the right thing afterwards by going down to the Suzuki garage and Suzuki being a very reasonable garage accepted his apology.
Sorry, guys! @suzukimotogp @JoanMirOfficial #PortugueseGP #ForzaDucati #DucatiLenovoTeam @MotoGP pic.twitter.com/1jaRz9N79r
— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) April 24, 2022
"In some ways, the incident was like when Valentino Rossi wiped out Casey Stoner in the wet some years ago; ‘your ambition outweighed your talent!’
“Jack was just a yard too deep.... Racing incident it was called and no penalties, but Jack still caused another rider and contender to crash and that is going to weigh heavily on both their minds; Jack for doing it and Mir for having lost a podium opportunity.”
The Miller/Mir incident put Aleix Espargaro onto the podium for the second time this season, with Aprilia now on the brink of losing technical concessions, while Alex Rins produced Huewen’s “ride of the day” from 23rd to fourth.
Huewen, Crash.net MotoGP editor Pete McLaren and podcast host Harry Benjamin, then discuss the shock Moto2 pile-up that left just 17 riders able to make the restart, as well as a breakthrough weekend for rookies Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley in the Moto3 class.
The Assen WorldSBK controversy - a track limits penalty for Alvaro Bautista, then the race two collision between Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu - is next on the agenda, before the trio bite the bullet and attempts to predication the podium at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
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