Source: Supplied.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller ended an emotional race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a career-best 10th-place finish in the MotoGP World Championship.

Miller coped brilliantly with rapidly deteriorating grip in hot conditions to claim the first top 10 of his premier class career in a race that captivated a crowd of close to 100,000 fans.

“I’m really happy to be back in the points and I had a big fight throughout the race and really enjoyed it,” Miller said. “I tried to conserve my tyres because I knew we would lose some grip in the hot conditions and it was a strategy that paid off. I definitely feel like I got the most potential out of the bike today.

“I tried to save the tyres in Jerez and I probably conserved them too much and felt I could have pushed more. But today I gave it my all and I used the whole performance potential of the rear tyre. To finish in the top 10 for the first time in my MotoGP career is a really big boost for me.

“My guys have stuck with me all through a difficult first part of the season and I’m happy for the team. And I dedicate my first top 10 in MotoGP to my friend Luis Salom, who I will miss greatly.”

Miller initially crossed the line in 11th position, but was moved ahead of Ducati-mounted Hector Barbera when he was penalised for exceeding track limits during Sunday’s race on the revised Formula 1 circuit layout.