Jack Miller was unable to deny Alex Marquez from taking the Moto3 title despite winning the final round of the season at Valencia.

Miller produced a typically gusty performance as the young Australian led the early stages fighting off several challenges from his rivals.

The 19-year-old from Townsville realistically needed to win the race with Marquez finishing off the podium to wrap up the title, which seemed likely on several occasions during the race.

However, despite a late charge to win the race from Isaac Vinales, Marquez just managed to hang on to third to secure the championship by just two points.

“Today we tried every way we could to win the World Championship,” said Miller.

“We gave all we had. I pushed like hell the whole race and left nothing in reserve. It was all or nothing.

“I gave it my best. I cannot thank my team enough for all the work they’ve done all year.

“It was nice to also receive support from my teammate, from Danny [Kent], and from KTM riders like Isaac Viñales.”

The race began perfectly for Miller with the Red Bull KTM rider moving into the lead at the start ahead of polesitter Niccolo Antonelli, Vinales and Marquez.

Marquez soon slipped into third with a move on Antonelli.

But the order soon changed at the front when Vinales passed Miller for the lead at the start of lap four. The pair swapped places on consecutive laps, while Marquez held third before briefly losing the position to Antonelli on lap eight.

A train of eight riders soon developed at the front as the race ticked towards the halfway mark.

Miller was briefly demoted to third with Vinales and Antonelli before shooting back to front. Marquez followed the Aussie through into second position.

Contact between Marquez and Antonelli saw the Spaniard drop to sixth before quickly recovering to fifth, which only went to boost Miller’s cause out in the lead.

Just two laps later Marquez returned to the all important third place which would secure him the title. He then slotted into second with Miller leading out front.

The pressure continued to mount on the title contenders as Alex Rins joined the fray.

Marquez’s team-mate pushed Miller wide with eight laps remaining, but despite dropping to fifth, he soon recovered to second with Marquez in third.

The topsy turvy battle continued with Miller amazingly moving back to the lead at the start of lap 19, while Marquez fell to fourth.

However, with just four laps to go drama struck as Miller dropped to fifth as a result of a mistake while battling for third.

Despite the error, he quickly regrouped and stormed back to the front as the attention turned to third placed Marquez, who was being caught by Danny Kent.

In the end, Miller took the chequered flag for the sixth time this season from Vinales, but the title wasn’t to be as Marquez came home to grab the final spot on the podium to claim the title.

Marquez and elder brother Marc Marquez, the two time MotoGP world champion, are the first siblings to win world championships in motorcycle grand prix racing.