It was Miller’s second consecutive victory following his success in the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month, making him the first Australian to seal back-to-back premier class wins since Casey Stoner in 2012.

Quartararo reclaimed the championship lead and sits on 80 points, a point ahead of Ducati’s Italian Francesco Bagnaia, who came fourth in Sunday’s race, with Zarco (68) in third overall.

In chaotic scenes at the Bugatti Circuit following a spell of heavy rain, a number of riders including defending champion Joan Mir, six-time champion Marc Marquez, Miguel Oliveira and Alex Rins failed to finish the race.

Miller, who started third on the grid, won despite a double long-lap penalty for speeding in the pit lane after early rain forced riders to swap their bikes in what would be the first flag-to-flag Grand Prix since Brno in 2017.

“It was very hectic,” Miller said in a post-race interview. “It was perfectly still pretty much just before … but when the rain and the wind came as I came down pit road the barrier blew into pit lane and I said: ‘They’re going to red-flag this.’

“But then it dropped off relatively quick … the first couple of laps were real dodgy on the wet tyres. But I had to get going and then I had the penalties … I generally do get speeding tickets here in France.

“But I was able to bosh them out pretty quickly and get to work on Fabio. I got in front of him and I felt comfortable. I was just riding to the conditions … Absolutely amazing. I can’t believe it. Back-to-back wins like this, it’s just fantastic.”