BANGKOK (AFP) - Miguel Oliveira delivered a wet-weather masterclass to win the Thai MotoGP on Sunday, but world champion Fabio Quartararo finished 17th and saw his lead at the top slashed to two points.
Portugal’s KTM rider Oliveira took the chequered flag ahead of Australia’s Jack Miller, with title contender Francesco Bagnaia of Italy third.
He is now just two points behind Yamaha’s Quartararo in the standings with three races left.
It was a nightmare day for France’s Quartararo and Spain’s Aleix Espargaro -- third in the title chase -- hardly had a great time either.
He came 11th on his Aprilia in the first MotoGP in Thailand since 2019 and is 20 points off Quartararo. The title race is too close to call.
Australia is up next, in two weeks, and Ducati’s Bagnaia smells his chance.
The race was delayed for almost an hour because of heavy rain over the Buriram circuit and it played out in treacherous conditions.
For Miller it was a second podium finish in a row, after his victory last weekend in Japan. He is fifth in the championship standings.
Miller is due to get married next weekend, ahead of his home grand prix, and said he would have been in “trouble” if the race had been postponed.
Spanish six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez -- who has won twice previously in Thailand -- showed he is back to near full fitness, placing fifth behind flying Frenchman Johann Zarco.