Jack Miller says one of his rivals acted "like an idiot" on the opening lap of the German GP, with the Australian enduring a nightmare start to Sunday's MotoGP race.
Miller was trapped on the outside as Pol Espargaro clipped the back of Andrea Iannone’s Suzuki at Turn 3 on Lap 1, causing the KTM rider to crash and take out Alex Rins in the process.
Espargaro was not penalised for the incident, while Alma Pramac rider Miller slipped to a distant last place after running through the gravel and was forced to work his way back through the field.
Milled finished 14th – coincidentally after starting 14th on the grid – while Iannone went on to take 12th.
Miller, German MotoGP 2018
“The crash was coming from a long way away,” Miller told media after the race.
“[Espargaro] came around the outside like an idiot already at Turn 1 trying to pass me, he ran into me and then tried to pass the three of us around the outside at Turn 2.
“I was lucky enough to avoid it, but running into the gravel, touching the wall and then having to come back through the gravel at the start of the race, a 30-lap race, already 15 seconds behind, it’s not the nicest.”
The race was dominated by reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who took his ninth straight victory at the Sachsenring.
“If I am to be honest, I am pleased to have been able to stay in the race after the clash with Espargaro,” Miller added.
“The race pace was good and I could have done the top 10.
“I’m still in the top 10 of the standings and I can’t wait to be in Brno to do a great race.”
MotoGP goes on summer break for the next two weekends, returning on 5 August for the Czech Grand Prix.
By Australian Motocycle Grand Prix
