-A packed Sepang International Circuit is entertained by MotoGP’s latest visit to Malaysia and for round eighteen of twenty as the 2023 contest heads into another rapid-fire triple header

-CFMOTO help wow the fans with a another enthralling Moto3 Grand Prix involving 15 laps of chaos and action 

-CFMOTO PruestelGP push to be protagonists in the final southeast Asia date on the Grand Prix trail and in the same week that the company show off a special Moto3-themed concept 800NK at the huge EICMA show in Italy

-Artigas enacts a smart and energized race to post his best result since the French Grand Prix and round four

-Kelso continues his competitive run in Moto3 and remains part of the front-running elite, taking another top ten result

-The desert night air and rough sandy abrasion of the newly remodeled Lusail International Circuit will take MotoGP directly to Qatar for the penultimate date of the season next week.

A one-week break for MotoGP was much needed after a triple in Indonesia, Australia and Thailand and in a variety of climates and around very different racing circuits. CFMOTO banked points and a podium prize during the three-week blast but the short hiatus after the Grand Prix at Buriram was almost essential ahead of the final three-race dash to the 2023 season checkered flag.

CFMOTO PruestelGP used the brief time-off to breathe and refocus for fixtures in Malaysia, Qatar and Spain and to give both Joel Kelso and Xavi Artigas the best material and opportunity to finish the campaign in the strongest way. First up was Sepang: a wide, fast and sweeping course distinctive for two long straights and two hairpin corners that often decide the final order in Moto3 races. 

Slipstreams were again at a premium and acceleration was also important. Some keen strategy in the pack was a useful asset for lap-times during practice and qualification and the CFMOTO PruestelGP team had to keep an eye on both the forecast and the Kuala Lumpur skies as the weather is notoriously fickle around the capital city.

Temperatures stayed high under clouds on Friday as Kelso and Artigas started the Grand Prix with reasonable efforts to place 14th and 15th on combined times after the two initial sessions. Saturday saw the Australian a little brighter in qualification and with the 7th quickest lap moved onto the third row of the grid. Artigas made his way through Q1 and into Q2 for the first time since the British Grand Prix in the summer. The Spaniard then took a decent 13th.

Moto3 flew around Sepang for 15 laps and the higher grid berths for the CFMOTO guys helped them plug into the leading group from the outset. A mid-race crash claimed four riders and meant Kelso hovered 9th and at the rear of the first gaggle while Artigas headed the second gathering back in 12th. Further incidents mixed the order and the CFMOTO bikes surged forward. At the flag Artigas powered to a decent 7th with his teammate just behind.

Xavi is poised 14th in the Moto3 world championship listing and is 24 points from 11th and 10 ahead of 15th. Joel is currently ranked 18th after his interrupted seasons. CFMOTO PruestelGP are sitting 9th from 14 in the Teams contest.

Once more the freight cases were swiftly packed and the logistics crew of MotoGP sprung into action post-race to move the championship across the time zones. This week the trek west begins and stops in Doha, where the recently face-lifted Lusail International Circuit (now a F1 host), will run the penultimate Grand Prix of the year next weekend.

Xavier Artigas: “A good way to end the Grand Prix and a good feeling today, especially with the heat; which was something we were struggling with yesterday. 7th place is not too bad, a good step forward actually and now we’ll look to be better in Qatar.”

Joel Kelso: “It was a battle out there. When the crash happened I manage to avoid it and then kept a decent rhythm to the guys at the front, making up some ground. I pulled along a group with me. I missed a bit at the end but that can happen in the fight on the last lap. I could not capitalize but the Grand Prix was positive overall. We know our weaknesses and will work on those for Qatar.”

Moto3 2023 Grand Prix of Malaysia

1. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna 33:30.072

2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna +0.066

3. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda +0.328

7. Xavier Artigas (ESP), CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP +7.345

8. Joel Kelso (AUS) CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP +7.400

Moto3 2023 world championship standings after 18 of 20 rounds

1. Jaume Masia (ESP) Honda 230 points

2. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 213 

3. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS, 205 

14. Xavier Artigas (ESP) CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP, 76 

18. Joel Kelso (AUS), CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP, 48