Hakim Danish scores top-10 in Austria as Moto3 heads to Motegi with a title on the line
Malaysia's Moto3 rider took seven points at the Red Bull Ring and moved further clear of Indonesian rival Veda Pratama. Maximo Quiles could be champion as early as next weekend.
Hakim Danish kept up his steady run with a ninth-place finish in the Moto3 race at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The AEON Credit–MT Helmets–MSI rider crossed the line 21.594 seconds behind the winner. He finished in a close group of riders fighting for fourth, and only 0.9s separated fourth place from ninth. His Japanese teammate Ryusei Yamanaka was right behind him in 10th, so both AEON Credit bikes scored.
The seven points keep Hakim seventh in the championship with 101 points, according to Bernama. Just as importantly, he stays ahead of Indonesia's Veda Pratama, who finished 13th in Austria, in a close fight for the title of Southeast Asia's top Moto3 rider.
The front of the race
Up front, Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar) won comfortably after his rival David Almansa crashed while leading. It was the Spaniard's ninth win of the season, and he now has 306 points. Red Bull KTM Ajo pair Brian Uriarte and Alvaro Carpe completed the podium.
Austria Moto3 top 10:
- Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar)
- Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +2.334s
- Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) +7.394s
- Eddie O'Shea (GRYD Racing)
- Guido Pini (Leopard Racing)
- Casey O'Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse)
- Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power)
- Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar)
- Hakim Danish (AEON Credit–MT Helmets–MSI)
- Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit–MT Helmets–MSI)
Next up: Motegi, then home
The world championship goes to Japan's Mobility Resort Motegi on 2–4 October, the same weekend F1 races at Sepang. Quiles gets his first chance to clinch the Moto3 title there.
For Hakim, the Asian rounds are a chance to move up. After Motegi, the series goes to Mandalika (11 Oct), Phillip Island (25 Oct) and then his home race, the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia at Sepang, 30 Oct–1 Nov. A top-six finish in the championship is still possible if he keeps scoring. The main aim, though, is to go into Sepang ahead of Veda Pratama, in front of a home crowd that set a record last year.
Malaysian fans can support him in person without spending much. The K2 Hillstand for MyKad holders costs RM49.90, and Friday of the Malaysian MotoGP weekend is free entry to all seating areas.
Sources: Bernama; Kosmo; Crash.net; Sepang International Circuit.