Shoey! A disgusting but traditional victory celebration. See how Jack Miller celebrated his victory in the Japanese VC

Australian rider Jack Miller dominated the sixteenth round of this year’s MotoGP season, the Japanese Grand Prix, in a truly dominant fashion. On the podium, he could not forgive himself for drinking champagne from his sweaty shoe in celebration of his victory.

Australian Miller scored his first win of the year at Motegi, and it was well worth it. The Japanese Grand Prix was scheduled for 24 laps, with Miller starting from seventh position.

Pole position was secured in Saturday’s qualifying by Marc Márquez, who was running only his second race after arm surgery. However, after all the lights went out, Brad Binder on the Red Bull KTM took the lead, but was soon replaced in first position by Jorge Martin.

Márquez dropped down the order early in the race, with Martin, Binder, Miller and Miguel Oliveira in the top four spots.

However, after three laps of the Japanese Grand Prix, Miller moved into the top spot and would not relinquish it to anyone for the remainder of the race. The strength of the Ducati motorcycle was thus once again on display, as Miller had already built up a 3.5 second lead over second-placed Martin by lap eleven.

There was then a Shoey celebration on the podium, with the race winners drinking champagne from their sweaty racing boots.

And where did the Shoey celebration come from?

The Shoey has its roots in Australia and was invented by a surfing and fishing crew called the Mad Hueys, who didn’t pour champagne into their shoes, but beer. In motorsport, the celebration was first introduced by Ryal Harris after a race in Perth as part of the Australian V8 pick-up series.

It was then replicated by Australian David Reynolds in the V8 Supercars championship, but the Shoey became world famous thanks to MotoGP, when in 2016 it was Australian Miller who celebrated his victory in this way.

Another Australian then was Daniel Ricciardo in Formula 1, thanks to which a number of celebrities also enjoyed the Shoey podium.

Japanese Grand Prix results

Miller was joined on the podium by Brad Binder and Jorge Martin. Spain’s Márquez came in fourth, with Oliveira crossing the line fifth and Luca Marini sixth. Seventh place went to Maverick Viñales, eighth to reigning champion and championship leader Fabio Quartararo.

The remaining two places in the top ten were taken by Enea Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi. Then five riders failed to finish the Japanese Grand Prix, including both Suzuki riders and Francesco Bagnaii, who is fighting for the championship with Quartararo and Aleix Espargar.

You can then see the standings of the elite ten in the riders’ championship after the Japanese Grand Prix in the attached Twitter post below.

Sources: MotoGP, F1