WITH teammate Miguel Oliveira not racing due to the injury to his right collarbone, Danny Kent set out to defend the Leopard Racing colours at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, the fifteenth round of the 2016 season, but his promising Motegi weekend was scuppered by technical DNF.

The Wiltshire-based rider was able to keep his position off the line and fought for points almost immediately.

He was well on course to achieving his goal of a top-10 finish.

Unfortunately, on the seventh lap of the race, the Chippenham native was forced to pit.

A broken gear shifter bolt ended his race almost before it had began, and it was yet another setback in a difficult season.

It was extremely unfortunate for Danny, at a grand prix that could have given him and the team a new impetus in the final part of the campaign.

Signs were positive ahead of the race following his performance in free practice and qualifying, but Kent and the team are left licking their wounds.

Days before the race, Kent closed the two free practice sessions respectively in 10th and 14th position, improving his best lap by seven tenths.

At the time, Kent said: “Overall I’m very satisfied with today’s work.

“I feel really good with the bike and the lap times are quite close.

“I’m very happy and geared up for tomorrow already.

“I know the potential is here and is much better.

“I feel good, I’m comfortable with the bike, I feel we can have a good weekend.”

He went into the Japan Grand Prix with hopes of sealing a top-10 finish but now has to look ahead to the next round.

It is precisely at these times that the Leopard Racing team roll up their sleeves and gather together. Attention now turns to the next round in Australia.

“Once again we are hit with bad luck,” said the disappointed rider.

“Unfortunately the bolt that holds the quick shifter on snapped which meant I couldn’t change gear. It fell off.

“In 2016 we’re getting all the bad luck so hopefully the good luck comes in the next few races. Overall it was a positive weekend, I felt really good on the bike.

“I honestly believe we could have been inside the top-10.

“Looking at the pace from fifth was the pace we had all weekend.

“It’s unfortunate as I felt really good, we were just hit with bad luck again.”

The 2015 Moto3 World Champion is currently 21st in the standings this season.