Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) is edging ever closer to his first Moto3 World Championship title. He now sits forty two points ahead of his closest rival Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers), and is in a strong position heading into the Red Bull Ring this weekend.
Mir has won the last two rounds in Germany and Brno and also won the race last year ahead of eventual Moto3 World Champion Brad Binder. No matter what happens this weekend, Mir will lead the overall standings as we head to the British GP at Silverstone in two weeks time. He'll be keen to take his third win in a row and his seventh of the season in Austria.
Of course Romano Fenati will not let Mir, or anyone else for that matter, slip away that easily. Fenati didn't race at the Red Bull Ring last year, due to a bust up with his team which resulted in his early departure. But he's racy, fast and always up for an on track battle, so there's no doubt in anyone's mind that he'll be one to watch this weekend.
Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) has had a fairly hit and miss season. He had a shocking ride at the Red Bull Ring last year, only managing to finish in twenty first. At the last race in Brno, Canet finished on the podium in third and will be taking that confidence with him to the RBR. As he sits in third in the standings and just twenty two points behind Fenati, he really needs to pull something out something special to keep any hopes of a title alive.
John McPhee (British Talent Team) hasn't had the greatest of seasons so far. He started off strong with two consecutive podiums, but it's all gone a bit downhill for the Scotsman. He's had a couple of top ten finishes since and a podium in Assen, and still sits in fifth in the overall standings. There's a hefty gap between him and fourth place, so he'll need to do some serious work in Austria to get a good points haul to close him in to the top four.
Don't rule out Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) either. He tried to come back from injury at Brno, but was forced to retire from the weekend as his injury was still causing him some pain. He's hoping to ride in Austria, and we're hoping to see him there too to ruffle the feathers of the top group. His team mate Fabio Di Giannantonio cannot be ruled out either. He either seems to finish in the top ten or not finish at all, but as he sits in seventh in the overall standings. he's got some serious catching up to do.
All the action from Austria begins tomorrow morning, from 9am.
source: motogp.copm
