Oliveira Wins to Keep Moto3 Title Alive

Oct 25, 2015
3 min read

Miguel Oliveira brilliantly won the Malaysian Grand Prix to keep his hopes of stealing the Moto3 title from Danny Kent alive.

In yet another closely fought race packed with slipstreams and continuously changing positions, Oliveira intelligently didn't lead going down the back straight into the final corner and instead followed his teammate Brad Binder. On the brakes into the last turn, Oliveira made his move and held it to clinch his fifth win of the season and with Danny Kent only managing seventh meant the title battle continues to the season finale at Valencia.

The story of the race was one of similar description to the majority of races in the second half of the season with a large group of riders battling for the top positions. Niccolo Antonelli started on pole position but got a poor start and dropped to seventh whilst Oliveira hit the front. Danny Kent also had a cautious start from 9th place and dropped seven places to 16th. However, the leading group weren't escaping as they continuously changed order down the back and pit-straights so Kent was able to keep in contention.

A nervous moment for Kent fans as two Leopard Racing bikes were down at turn two but fortunately it was Kent's two teammates that collided after Ono clipped the back of Vazquez' bike. Antonelli and Kent then stayed calm and content at the back of the leading group of eight riders allowing the front six to use their tyres and keep battling.

As ever, the action and order would go down to the final lap and in particular here at Sepang the final corner. Jorge Navarro led the race onto the final lap ahead of Oliveira, Binder, Fenati, Kent, Antonelli and Kornfeil. With the positions in this order Kent would be crowned champion. Brad Binder first took the lead with teammate Oliveira following in second whilst Kent was passed by Antonelli and dropped to sixth at turn nine.

With just half a lap to go, Oliveira running second and Kent fifth meant the title would be over and Kent champion. However, at turn nine Niccolo Antonelli took fifth from Kent as it stood Kent would still be champion. Yet more action followed, as Oliveira got a perfect tow from his teammate down the back straight and made a great move on the brakes into the final corner to steal the victory. Meanwhile, Jakub Kornfeil made a similar move and pushed Kent back to seventh place over the line. Jorge Navarro secured third place ahead of Antonelli and Fenati.

The result means the championship battle goes onto the final race at Valencia in two weeks time. 24 points separates Kent in the lead from Miguel Oliveira with only 25 available. A 13th place finish will secure the title for Kent but with Oliveira on a rich vein of form of three wins and two second places in the last five races, Kent in complete contrast has struggled since his last win at Silverstone with two sixth places, two retirements and seventh today. The British rider must ensure he finishes and avoid a no score in the season finale if he is to be crowned champion. The pair will be teammates as they step up to Moto2 in 2016 and so both will be looking for bragging rights going into the new season.

Moto3 Malaysian Grand Prix Results Top10:

WINNER - MIGUEL OLIVEIRA, 40m33.277s

Second - Brad BINDER, +0.089s

Third - Jorge NAVARRO, +0.273s

4th - Niccolo ANTONELLI, +0.305s

5th - Romano FENATI, +0.416s

6th - Jakub KORNFEIL, +0.530s

7th - Danny KENT, +0.590s

8th - Enea BASTIANINI, +4.004s

9th - Alexis MASBOU, +6.990s

10th - John MCPHEE, +10.030s

Full Moto3 Race Results available here.