A win would make him the Moto3 champion regardless of his rivals’ results
Máximo Quiles’ journey towards achieving the season’s ultimate goal is drawing ever closer to its conclusion. Following his podium finish in Japan, where he finished 46 thousandths behind David Almansa, the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider will have another chance to become champion this weekend in Indonesia. This time, the situation is much clearer and it is entirely in his own hands: a win would be enough regardless of how Almansa, Álvaro Carpe and Brian Uriarte would end up. Furthermore, Almansa, who is second on 127 points, is the rider most likely to stand in Quiles’ way of claiming the title: if Quiles finishes second, he needs Almansa not to win, whilst if the championship leader finishes third, the Spaniard would have to miss out on the podium. In short, the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider needs to finish the Indonesian Grand Prix with a 125-point lead.
Marco Morelli remains hopeful of turning around his run of form in recent races, during which he has faced difficult situations that have prevented him from challenging for the podium. This week he returns to a circuit he knows well and where he scored points last year. The Argentine’s progress this season has been clearly demonstrated, and he has made it onto the podium on four occasions. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, he remains in fifth place in the Moto3 standings with 146 points, although he has fallen further behind fourth place and is now more than forty points adrift. With 150 points still up for grabs, the battle for the runners-up spot is getting tighter and tighter: Almansa’s victory at Motegi has allowed him to reclaim second place with 199 points. Behind him, Álvaro Carpe, who also finished on the podium, has 191 points; whilst his team-mate Brian Uriarte is fourth with 187.
Máximo Quiles: “We’re heading to Indonesia knowing that it’s all down to us to clinch the Moto3 title. We’re just one win away from doing so, and that’s a huge motivation. We’ll see how the weekend goes; it doesn’t have to be any different from the others, so we’ll take it day by day to prepare well for the race. If we can fight for it on Sunday, we’ll go all out.”
Marco Morelli: “Last Sunday’s race was tricky for me after having had a very good weekend. The circuit in Indonesia is a very fast one, and I hope to find a good solution there that will allow us to get back to achieving good results in the final part of the season.”
