Tank Slappers Podcast: Miller wins wild French MotoGP
Jack Miller triumphed in a chaotic flag-to-flag French Grand Prix despite serving two long-lap penalties to secure back-to-back wins to continue his MotoGP resurgence.
The Ducati rider led at the start of the race at Le Mans before trading overtakes with both Yamaha factory riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo until he briefly went off the track as the rain began to fall.
After pitting to switch to his wet bike, Miller – and Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia – were both given double long-lap penalties for speeding in the pitlane. Meanwhile, Quartararo was given a single long-lap penalty for stopping on the wrong side of the Yamaha pitbox during his bike switch.
Marc Marquez looked favourite for victory in the flag-to-flag race but crashed on lap nine, before falling for a second time on lap 18 to end his race, with Miller producing a masterful recovery to charge to victory.
Johann Zarco narrowly missed out on a home win at Le Mans in second place for Pramac Ducati, as Quartararo also fought back to complete the podium and with it regain the championship lead from Bagnaia who finished in fourth.
In the latest Tank Slappers podcast, Autosport's Lewis Duncan and Motorsport.com's Oriol Puigdemont discuss Miller's Le Mans win and how it could set up a MotoGP world title challenge after his tough start to 2021.
The pair also review Zarco’s improvements despite missing out on a maiden MotoGP win, plus how Quartararo’s performance could have his title rivals worried.
PLUS: Why the most significant Le Mans MotoGP performance wasn't Miller's
Related video
Previous article
Bagnaia 'lucky' French MotoGP was wet after bike issue
Next article
Aleix Espargaro 'more frustrated than ever' at Le Mans MotoGP DNF
Marc Marquez is back
MotoGP Starting Grid: Portugal Grand Prix
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
Marc Márquez's first ride after his injury
Marc Marquez continues his recovery
Why Quartararo’s Catalunya suit penalty highlights a wider issue in MotoGP
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo racing with his leather suit open and subsequent penalty has been the main talking point of the Catalunya MotoGP weekend, which has highlighted a wider issue with MotoGP’s stewarding that risks a negative precedent going forward
How MotoGP’s “beast” tamers bounced back at Catalunya
The expectation on KTM to replicate its winning form from 2020 this season made its difficult start to the new MotoGP campaign even more disappointing. But a key update has seen KTM's fortunes reversed over the last week and returned it to the top step of the podium in Barcelona
The signs that point to Rossi's MotoGP retirement
It's not been a happy start to 2021 for Valentino Rossi at the Petronas SRT satellite squad, with performances that are a shadow of the rider that utterly dominated MotoGP at the start of the new millennium. At the age of 42, how much longer can he go on?
Why the most significant Le Mans MotoGP performance wasn't Miller's
Hot on the heels of his first MotoGP win in five years, Jack Miller made it two from two with a commanding French Grand Prix victory at Le Mans despite two long-lap penalties. Impressive though it was, it was an expectation-defying performance from an anticipated title rival that was the real standout
The impossible problem Honda faces with its 2021 MotoGP bike
Honda hasn’t enjoyed an easy start to the 2021 MotoGP campaign, despite gains last season which looked to have carried over into the pre-season. Now admitting it does have issues in serious need of resolving, it faces an almost impossible task in doing so
How Jerez underlined MotoGP's speed problem
The brutal nature of a series of crashes at Jerez has reopened the debate about whether current MotoGP speeds are beyond the safety limits of the tracks. But even if riders are supportive of the move, getting the manufacturers to find a consensus on how speed reductions should be achieved may be altogether harder
How a Crutchlow helped Miller to Jerez MotoGP redemption
Jack Miller’s tough start to life as a factory Ducati MotoGP rider left him mentally battered and bruised, but a pep talk and positive reinforcement from a surprising source aided the Australian to show his full potential with victory at the Spanish Grand Prix
What does Marc Marquez have to do to get back to his best?
Following his resounding MotoGP return with a seventh place finish in Portugal, Marc Marquez now must work to rediscover his best form before turning his attention towards results-based targets
