Jack Miller says he felt 'dicked around' for being the only rider to choose slicks while the rest caused a 15-minute start delay to the Argentina MotoGP race as they left the grid to fit dry tyres.
All bar pole man Miller headed to the grid for the MotoGP race fitted with wet tyres, but decided shortly before the start to return to pitlane to change.
This caused a delay to the start while the organisers sorted the grid order, which remained unchanged, albeit with second placed five rows behind Miller.
The Pramac rider understood the pressure Race Direction was placed under in the circumstances, but still questions why he was penalised for making what he felt was the correct decision.
“For me, slicks was the way to go, there's no way we should have started on wets and the weather afterwards proved that,” Miller wrote in his blog for redbull.com.
“Once I saw how quickly the track and the pitlane were drying, it was for sure slick tyres.
“So the others peel back in, I'm sitting there on pole position wondering where the hell everyone is, and then they delay the start by 15 minutes.
“Everyone else made the wrong call by choosing the wrong tyres; we didn't. So why do I get penalised for that?
“I understand the guys in charge of the series are under a whole heap of pressure, but it's a shame for us because we made the right choice and got dicked around for it.”
Miller led for much of the of the 25-lap encounter, but a mistake in the closing stages at Turns 13 and 1 saw him drop off the tail of the podium battle to finish fourth – his best-ever dry result.
Race winner Cal Crutchlow feels the Australian deserves plaudits for his pole lap and how he conducted his race.
“But we also have to give credit to Jack,” the LCR rider said on Sunday.
“Yesterday, what he did in that qualifying was very, very good. As I said in my media yesterday, he's my friend, I know how big his balls are, but yesterday they grew a few sizes.
“That was an incredible lap and he rode very well in the race to lead.
“I think it was easier leading in those conditions, honestly speaking, but he did very well and he did well to finish fourth as well.”
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