Local hope Jack Miller was content to settle for tenth in his second Australian MotoGP after a career-best qualifying performance at Phillip Island.
The 21-year-old raised expectations when he qualified fifth fastest in difficult conditions on Saturday, but the Marc VDS Honda rider ultimately achieved his pre-race goal of a top-10 finish.
"It was a shame we couldn't do a little bit more on Sunday but I'm happy with how everything went," Miller said.
"It was nearly eighth if I got it all right on the last lap, which is a bit of a shame, but that's how it is.
"That's the way the cookie crumbles. I just ran out laps towards the end there.
"It was tough out there ... I was in a big old battle with a lot of hard fighters ... it was definitely a lot of fun."
Miller was apologetic over contact with former world champion Nicky Hayden with two laps to go that relegated the American to last place.
"I just put my bike underneath - I don't know if he saw me or not but he just kept turning," he said.
"It was a shame, I'm sorry to have hit him, but that's racing."
Queenslander Mike Jones rode in his second race as an injury replacement for the Avintia Racing Ducati team and continued to impress.
The 22-year-old is hopeful a permanent ride is in his future after he secured a championship point with a 15th-placed finish.
"I'm really excited ... it's incredible to get a championship point at my home grand prix," Jones said.
"It's certainly not doing my career any harm to be able to do that. The people running things seem to be quite happy.
"It's been an incredible time for me and I've thoroughly enjoyed it."
In Moto2 action, Remy Gardner, who was detained by Japanese authorities with his father Wayne Gardner last week, endured a torrid afternoon.
The Tasca Racing Scuderia rider started from 22nd but tangled with Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline) at turn 10 on the first lap.
The 18-year-old was able to pick his bike up and rejoin the race but he crashed out for good with 12 laps remaining.
The only other Australian in action at Phillip Island was wildcard Matt Barton, who rode a Suus Honda in an incident-packed Moto3 race that was stopped after a four-bike crash.
Barton managed to avoid the carnage and was last over the line in 20th.
