MOTOR CYCLING: Kent just misses out on a podium in Australia (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury's Danny Kent finishes fifth on Phillip Island

9:26am Monday 29th October 2012 in Sport

MOTO3 star Danny Kent narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Australia at the Phillip Island circuit last weekend, writes Alannah Fellows.

The Tetbury ace struggled to find his usual fast pace and finished free practise and qualifying in fourth position.

Kent, 18, then got off to a poor start in the race itself and slipped down the order into 16th position by the fourth lap. However, the Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider pushed on and had joined the front group by lap seven. But he found his progress hampered by having a cracked seat unit.

Fighting his KTM teammate, the Aussie rider Arthur Sissis for the final podium position, Danny was in third place at the start of the last lap. But he lost out to local boy Sissis and Alex Rins from the final corner and crossed the line in fifth position.

“I’m a bit disappointed with today's race,” said Kent. “My seat unit snapped on lap three so I had no feeling with the rear and had to keep squatting on exit of corners. But it is onwards and upwards for Valencia.”

Kent’s other teammate and Moto3 World Champion Sandro Cortese won the race, ahead of Miguel Olivera and Sissis.

The MotoGP circus now travels on to Spain for the final round of the season at the circuit of Valencia, where Danny will have his last race in Moto3, hoping to secure fifth position in the world championship standings.