Morbidelli lifts Moto2 title, Mir bags 10th Moto3 win of the season

ITALIAN Franco Morbidelli and Spaniard Joan Mir will forever hold good memories of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Morbidelli was crowned the new Moto2 world champion without even racing at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday after nearest rival Thomas Luthi of Switzerland was ruled out with a fractured ankle after a massive crash in qualifying.

Luthi was the only person capable of stopping Morbidelli from winning the world title although he trailed 29 points behind the Italian going into the penultimate round of the world championship in Sepang.

Morbidelli, who started from pole, finished third in the 19-lap race yesterday in 40:35.833 to head to the final round in Valencia in two weeks’ time with a total of 288 points.

Luthi remains second with 243 points while Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who won the race yesterday in 40:28.955, is third on 216 points.

“I will forever remember this day. It’s a dream come true to become the world champion,” said Morbidelli, who has eight wins and 11 podium finishes this season.

“I woke up to the news that Luthi could not start the race and I was confirmed as the world champion this morning but I did not feel like one.

“I only felt like a world champion after I crossed the finish line.

“I tried to do a good race and stay with Oliveira but he was just too fast on the new tyres.

“I am just happy I managed to celebrate with my team by getting on the podium,” added the 22-yearold Morbidelli, who is the first Italian since Marco Simoncelli in 2008 to win the world title in the intermediate class.

Mir, who secured the Moto3 world title at the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island a week ago, put up another impressive performance at Sepang to clinch his 10th win of the season.

The 20-year-old Leopard Racing Honda rider finished the 18-lap race in 40:14.545. Fellow Spaniard Jorge Martin clocked 40:15.269 for second place.

Mir, who also won in Phillip Island, is the first rider to win 10 races in a year in the lightweight category since compatriot Marc Marquez in 2010.