Moto3: Red flagged victory make Mir 2017 champion

Joan Mir has taken the 2017 Moto3 world title in stunning style at the Australian Grand Prix, winning at Phillip Island despite a shortened race and becoming the first of the season’a champions by securing the crown in the process.

The Spaniard only needed to beat rival Romano Fenati today thanks to his 55-point championship lead – but it wasn’t made easy for him thanks to the antics of the Moto3 field, and his early efforts to break away came to naught.

However, with heavy rain beginning to fall at two thirds distance, he was in the right place at the right time when the red flags came out, taking the victory from teammate Livio Loi, competing a dream day for the Leopard Racing squad. 

They were joined on the podium by Jorge Martin, with Gabriel Rodrigo, Enea Bastianini and Fenati rounding out the top six in the crash-strewn race.

British Talent Honda rider John McPhee had the shortest race of his career, crashing out at turn one on the first lap after running wide and finding himself on the grass as he tried to charge forward from a poor qualifying position.