Australian rider Jack Miller heads to Phillip Island this weekend buoyed by not only the support of his home fans but that of Dorna Sports – who are the commercial rights holder of MotoGP – CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
The Australian GP is set to be pivotal in the world championship race with only ten points separating leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and defending champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as they head to the daunting and exhilarating Phillip Island circuit chasing their first win at the iconic venue.
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Distracting from the title bout however has been debate about the worthiness of Australia’s sole representative in the field.
Miller, 29, was dumped by his current team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for next year and faced a possible exit from MotoGP before he was scooped up by Pramac Yamaha.
Spanish and Italian riders are dominating the landscape and many have argued that riders from other countries are being chosen ahead of them to keep a spread of nationalities on the grid.
It is a notion that Ezpeleta labelled as “nonsense”.
“In the Olympics, if you are an American and you are fourth in your country, you don’t go. It’s over. That’s it,” Ezpeleta told Spanish sports news website AS.
Bagnaia breaks lap record in practice | 01:00
“It cannot be, and I am Spanish, that some gentlemen who have had more facilities than the others, because in Spain it works well, take over the grid.
“It cannot be that we occupy the grid with Spaniards. That is a clear decision of the championship.
“This has to be a world championship and if you are from a place where there are many, you have to be better, and that’s it, because you have had more facilities.
“And in the case of Miller it is very clear, because he is a rider who has won grands prix in MotoGP.
“Others who criticise him have won less than him. Let’s not come with nonsense.”
MORE COVERAGE
Aussie return could blow open title war; local young gun set to steal show: MotoGP Burning Qs
Giant’s elephant in room emerges as title run sparks awkward MotoGP scenario
‘Mostly a big relief’: Phillip Island winner talks breakthroughs, backflips and banishing hoodoos
HOW TO WATCH
Australian motorsport fans will be able to watch every moment of the Grand Prix of Australia LIVE on Fox Sports Channel 506 and Kayo Sports.
START TIME
The Grand Prix of Australia will start at 2pm AEDT on Sunday 20 October.
Final lap drama sees hectic winning pass | 01:18
SCHEDULE (All times AEDT)
Friday 18 October
8.45am-9.20am Moto3 Free Practice
9.35am-10.30am Moto2 Free Practice
10.45am-11.30am MotoGP Free Practice 1
11.45am-12.05pm bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Free Practice
1.15pm-1.50pm Moto3 Practice 1
2.05pm-2.45pm Moto2 Practice 1
3pm-4pm MotoGP Practice
4.15pm-4.35pm bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Qualifying
Saturday 19 October
8.40am-9.10am Moto3 Practice 2
9.25am-9.55am Moto2 Practice 2
10.10am-10.40am MotoGP Free Practice 2
10.50am-11.05am MotoGP Qualifying 1
11.15am-11.30am MotoGP Qualifying 2
12.15pm-12.35pm bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race (7 Laps)
12.50pm-1.05pm Moto3 Qualifying 1
1.15pm-1.30pm Moto3 Qualifying 2
1.45pm-2pm Moto2 Qualifying 1
2.10pm-2.25pm Moto2 Qualifying 2
3pm MotoGP Tissot Sprint (13 Laps)
4.15pm bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race 2 (7 Laps)
Sunday 20 October
9am-9.20am bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race 3 (7 Laps)
9.40am-9.50am MotoGp Warm Up
10.10am-10.20am Honda Junior GP
11am Moto3 Race (21 Laps)
12.15pm Moto2 Race (23 Laps)
1.15pm-1.30pm Mick Doohan 1994 Anniversary Honour Lap
2pm MotoGP Race (27 Laps)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing)
2. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
3. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team)
4. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP)
5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)
7. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing)
8. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing)
9. Marco Bezzechhi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
10. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
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