Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Breaking news

Kent seals Moto3 title despite Oliveira victory

Leopard Racing's Danny Kent held on to his Moto3 championship lead to secure the title at Valencia, despite a win for main rival Miguel Oliveira.

Danny Kent, Leopard racing

Danny Kent, Leopard racing

Leopard Racing

In doing so, Kent, 21, became the first British World Champion in motorcycle grand prix racing since Barry Sheene won his second 500cc title in 1977.

Kent only needed a 14th-place finish or higher at Valencia to finally take the crown that he had a shot at mathematically securing in every round since Motegi.

However, a difficult qualifying session left him 18th on the grid, while Oliveira, who needed to win to have a shot at the title, lined up in fourth.

And Kent's task was made harder when Oliveira stormed off the second row to lead into Turn 1, while the Briton himself moved up to 15th on the first lap - before taking the 14th spot on the lap after.

He subsequently progressed to 11th as the race went on as Oliveira battled Jorge Navarro, Romano Fenati and Kent's teammate Efren Vazquez for the lead.

The Portuguese rider seemed to finally establish a comfortable grip on the lead by the end of the race, yet he was passed by both Navarro and Vazquez with two laps to go.

However, he re-passed both bikes into Turn 1 of the final lap and went on to claim his fourth win from the last six races.

Yet, despite being passed by another teammate Hiroki Ono in the dying seconds, Kent finished ninth after a crash between Niccolo Antonelli, Vazquez and Fenati at the last corner and sealed the title.

In 2016, both Kent and Oliveira will both step up to Moto2, where they will be teammates at Leopard Racing.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Moto3 title battle goes down to the wire as Kent loses out to Oliveira at Sepang
Next article Mahindra finishes third in Moto3 constructors' standings

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia