MALMESBURY'S Danny Kent enjoyed his second top 10 finish from three starts in the Moto3 championship season at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Argentina – and yet will still feel slightly disappointed after his stunning performance in qualifying, writes Alannah Fellows.

Visiting the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit for the first time, Kent soon got a clear understanding aboard his Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo machine and took third place on the front row of the grid, just 0.417s off pole position.

Kent, 19, got a strong start in the race itself and was fighting with the leading group in the early laps, however a lack of acceleration on his Husqvarna forced him to slip down the order.

With four laps remaining Kent found himself battling with team-mate Niklas Ajo for eighth position, and a slight coming together on the final corner led to Kent going on to the gravel and crashing just after the line.

Luckily he was unscathed and he was able to claim ninth place.

Kent said: "We had a good start and I put myself in the leading group where I was going at the same pace as my qualifying session.

"After the first 10 laps, the front tyre was very worn and I almost crashed several times.

"On the last lap I overtook my team-mate Niklas, but he regained eighth spot near the finish.

"I’m happy because this weekend we took an important step forward in free practice and in the qualifying session.

"We just need to analyse what happened with the front tyre and keep improving for the next race in Jerez."