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Oliveira win Styrian MotoGP, SA's Brad Binder 8th

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Brad Binder (Getty)
Brad Binder (Getty)

Miguel Oliveira overtook Pol Espargaro and Jack Miller on the last corner on of the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday to score a first MotoGP for Portugal and the Tech-3 team.

South Africa's Brad Binder finished in 8th position, just 4.1 seconds behind Oliveira. 

In a race shortened to a 12-lap sprint by a spectacular crash, Spaniard Espargaro on a KTM entered the last lap ahead.

Australian Miller of Ducati-Pramac overtook but entering the last corner Espargaro was half a wheel ahead.

As the two forced each other wide, Oliveira on his independent KTM, dived through on the inside to win. Miller was second and Espargaro third.

"I was very surprised," said Oliveira. "Because I crossed the finish line. I saw the chequered flag and no one was around me and I was like 'I'm going to win'. It was sweet. Super cool."

The race was interrupted when the brakes on Maverick Vinales' Yamaha failed and he threw himself onto the tarmac before the riderless bike smashed through one of the safety barriers.

The interruption cost Suzuki's Johan Mir who was leading but had no another front tyre available while other teams used the pause to change theirs.

Espargaro has been leading when the previous week's Austrian Grand Prix was interrupted by a red flag.

After the restart, Miller and Espargaro broke clear. In the closing laps, Oliveira joined them. He took advantage as the leaders focused on each other on the final corners.

"I tried to brake a little early and ride underneath Pol," said Miller "I didn't expect Oliveira to be there".

Espargaro acknowledged the restart had prevented Mir winning.

"It was not our race it was Mir's race. He was the fastest," said Espargaro.

Mir was fourth, while Oliveira made history

"First for Portugal on 900th MotoGP," said Oliveira. "We are the best. History for me today and for my country."

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, who finished in 13th place, remains in the lead of the World Championship with a three-point advantage over Ducati's Italian Andrea Dovizioso who was fifth on Sunday.

Collated leading results from the Styrian motorcycling Grand Prix in Spielberg on Sunday:

MotoGP

Results

1. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) 16min 56.025sec, 2. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) at 0.316, 3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 0.540, 4. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.641, 5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1.414, 6. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 1.450, 7. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 1.864, 8. Brad Binder (RSA/Suzuki) 4.150, 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 4.517, 10. Iker Lecuona (ESP/KTM/Tech-3) 5.068

World championship standings

1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) 70 points, 2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) 67, 3. Jack Miller (AUS) 56, 4. Brad Binder (RSA) 49, 5. Maverick Vinales (ESP) 48

Moto2

Results

1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Kalex 37 minutes 12.461 seconds, Jorge Martin (ESP/Kalex) same time, 3. Remy Gardner (USA/Kalex) at 1.027sec, 4. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN/Kalex) 1.974, 5. Thomas Lthi (SUI/Kalex) 3.230

World championship standings

1. Luca Marini (ITA) 87 points, 2. Enea Bastianini (ITA) 79, 3. Jorge Martin (ESP) 79, 4. Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN) 68, 5. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) 65

Moto3

Results

1. Celestino Vietti (ITA/KTM) 37 minutes 10.319 seconds, 2. Tony Arbolino (ITA/Honda) at 0.410sec, 3. Ai Ogura (JPN/Honda) 0.938, 4. Gabriel Rodrigo (ESP/Honda) 1.182, 5. Albert Arenas (ESP/KTM) 1.380

World championship standings

1. Albert Arenas (ESP) 106 points, 2. Ai Ogura (JPN) 81, 3. John McPhee (GBR) 67, 4. Celestino Vietti (ITA) 66, 5. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 60

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