2014 Valencia Moto3 Preview
Unlike the Moto2 series, where Esteve Rabat has already claimed the World Championship crown, the title for Moto3 remains in question in the season finale at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana in Valencia, Spain, on November 9.
Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0), younger brother of 2014 MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, is atop the points standings right now with 262. But a resurgent Australian Red Bull KTM Ajo rider, Jack Miller, is charging hard and has closed to within 11 points. Heading into the final round, Miller has 251 points.
Miller had led the series early in the season, but faded toward mid-season as Marquez piled up points with back-to-back victories at Catalunya and Assen, nine podium finishes, including three victories and three pole position starts so far.
Miller, meanwhile, also has nine podium finishes, including five victories and has earned the pole position eight times. Miller has been impressive down the stretch with a victory at Phillip Island and a second place finish at Sepang.
However, Marquez has not backed down by any stretch of the imagination with a victory at Motegi and a second place at Phillip Island.
If Miller can win at Valencia and Marquez finish no better than fourth, Miller could yet go out on top, but with Spaniard Marquez on home turf in Spain, he is unlikely to give anything less than his absolute best—which Miller must do as well.
Marquez’s teammate and countryman, Alex Rins trails Miller by 25 points with 226. Rins has 8 podium finishes on the season, including two back-to-back victories at Silverstone and Misano. While Rins is not in a position to challenge Marquez for the title, nor is he likely to be able close the gap much on Miller, he is a tough competitor coming off back-to-back podium finishes at Motegi and Sepang and is unlikely to give anything less than an all-out performance before his countrymen.
SaxoPrint-RTG rider Efren Vazquez trails Rins by fourteen points in fourth place with 212 points, seven podium finishes including two victories and one pole position. Like Miller, Vazquez has stepped up his game in the late going coming off a victory at Sepang and second place finish at Motegi.
Italian Roman Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46) is in fifth place with 174 points on six podium finishes including an impressive four victories the most recent at Aragon, but Fenati has not reached the podium since.
Early on, Fenati looked like the man to beat, as he scored three victories in the first six races of the season, but then his fortunes cooled as he reached the podium only twice in the next eleven races.
Frenchman Alexis Masbou is in sixth place with 160 points, followed by Enea Bastianini in seventh with 122 points, Isaac Viñales in eighth with 121 points, Danny Kent in ninth position with 116 points and Brad Binder rounds out the top ten in a tie with Miquel Oliveira, both with 102 points.
While the duel between Marquez and Miller will no doubt be the focal point of the Moto3 Finale in Valencia, the battle among the points position contenders in the lower half of the top ten could provide some great competition, as well.
2014 Moto3 Point Standings:
1. Alex MARQUEZ Honda SPA 262
2. Jack MILLER KTM AUS 251
3. Alex RINS Honda SPA 226
4. Efren VAZQUEZ Honda SPA 212
5. Romano FENATI KTM ITA 174
6. Alexis MASBOU Honda FRA 160
7. Enea BASTIANINI KTM ITA 122
8. Isaac VIÑALES KTM SPA 121
9. Danny KENT Husqvarna GBR 116
10. Brad BINDER Mahindra RSA 102
11. Miguel OLIVEIRA Mahindra POR 102
