Aussies in finish at Portimao

AUSSIE motorcycle stars Jack Miller and Remy Gardner sent the 2020 season out in style with a podium double in the final round at Portimao in Portugal.

Miller, in his last race for Pramac Ducati, finished second in the MotoGP finale behind hometown hero Miguel Oliveira on the KTM who blitzed the field from start to finish.

Barcelona- based Gardner ( pictured) won his first race in Moto2 after starting from pole.

Miller’s podium finish also secured Ducati’s first manufacturing championship since Casey Stoner in 2008.

The 25- year- old Queenslander had spent most of the race in third place but squeezed past Franco Morbidelli’s b Petronas Yamaha on the final lap, turning the tables b on the Italian who beat b Miller the week w before at Valencia. “That was great, I loved that,’’ Miller said. “I came up with something on the final lap to get second place — hard to top that for the boys really, because the only thing that could have been better was the top step. Hats off to Miguel ( Oliveira) though, he was in a race of his own up front.

“Two second places in seven days was just about a perfect way to say goodbye to the Pramac guys after four years.’’

Miller finished the season in strong form, ending with a career- best seventh place in the championship, just 39 points behind Joan Mir, the new world champion.

In Moto2, Gardner said he relished the Portimao track as he secured the victory for the SAG Racing Team.

“I loved the track, it was super fun, like a rollercoaster.’’ Gardner said.